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find your dream career! ascpskincare.com/career-toolkits 35 What Now? Practicing in the face of COVID-19 by Mark Lees, PhD The COVID-19 pandemic has presented all of us with challenges we never imagined. Beauty and wellness services like esthetic skin care are some of the most affected professions; after all, it's impossible to practice social distancing while performing a facial treatment. But as we begin to return to the treatment room, I want to share some basic information on safer practice procedures. THE FACTS COVID-19 is an airborne virus that is extremely contagious, much more so than flu or cold viruses. It is spread by both airborne and surface contact through saliva or nasal fluids from a human carrying the virus. The most common way to become infected is by a person touching their face with hands that are contaminated with the virus from touching a contaminated surface. The virus can also be spread by breathing in viral particles that are airborne, such as sitting next to an infected person who sneezes or coughs. THE REASON FOR MASKS Whenever a person breathes or talks, a micronized spray of saliva becomes airborne. This micronized spray is not visible to the naked eye, but it can carry airborne viruses. Without wearing masks, two people talking to one another at a normal distance are potentially spraying each other's breathable air with virus. If both people wear masks, this exchange of spray saliva is minimized greatly. In a skin care practice, masks should be worn by every staff member, including receptionists and assistants, at all times. Clients should be required to wear masks when in common areas of the clinic or salon. Obviously, clients cannot wear masks while receiving a facial treatment. Know what your state and local requirements are regarding face masks. SOCIAL DISTANCING Staying at least 6 feet from another person establishes a distance field from airborne exposure. If you are speaking with someone 6 feet away, the saliva spray that occurs with talking is extremely unlikely to reach the other person. The risk is further decreased if both people are wearing masks. It is important to try to minimize contact between clients who are in the building at the same time, and to avoid allowing groups of people in a confined area, such as a lobby or checkout area. In the salon, social distancing can be practiced by: expertadvice SKIN SOLUTIONS