Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1489006
New member benefit! Get the ASCP SkinPro app at ascpskincare.com/skinpro 63 focus on treating the whole person, was an intuitive context for the investigation. Davis began asking her clients if they would like to try an additional way of managing stress, free of charge—and most of those asked said yes. In all, 97 spa clients were given the Insight Cards and instructed to re ect on the insights twice daily for the duration of the study. Perceived stress was measured via questionnaire at the beginning and end of the study, and, as before, participants' self-reported stress scores were signi cantly lower at the end of the study than they were at baseline, with the majority of participants (97 percent) showing a decrease in stress from the beginning to the end of the study. 6 LOOKING FORWARD Although the present research is limited in scope and methodology, and more investigation is needed before de nitive conclusions can be drawn, these studies provide preliminary evidence that following a positive psychology protocol involving the use of positive Insight Cards may help reduce stress, which has been associated with skin concerns. 7 For estheticians, massage therapists, and others seeking to provide holistic care, positive Insight Cards could be a worthy addition to their tool kit. Like Davis, estheticians and spa owners might ask clients if they'd like to try the Insight Cards as a way of managing stress between appointments. You might also try printing and posting the cards in waiting areas and treatment rooms or sharing them periodically on social media. At the very least, you might try incorporating Insight Cards as part of your self-care practice for managing Cultural Stress. After the Insight Cards study, Perfect Balance Day Spa introduced a wellness membership program that encourages clients to manage stress by coming in Interested in using Insight Cards with your clients? You can access them for free at https://bit.ly/3UpVVEE or scan the code above. monthly for services. Davis says she came up with her own positive insight as well: "Live a life less perfect . . . more balanced." Notes 1. D. S. Goldstein and B. McEwen, "Allostasis, Homeostats, and the Nature of Stress," International Journal on the Biology of Stress 5, no. 1 (2002): 55–8, https://doi. org/10.1080/102538902900012345; N. C. Glassen et al., "Life Stress, Glucocorticoid Signaling, and the Aging Epigenome: Implications for Aging-Related Diseases," Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 74, Part B (March 2017): 356–65, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. neubiorev.2016.06.003; C. M. Lee, R. E. B. Watson, and C. E. Kleyn, "The Impact of Perceived Stress on Skin Ageing," Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology 34, no. 1 (January 2020): 54–8, https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.15865; S. Bondade, A. Hosthota, and V. Basavaraju, "Stressful Life Events and Psychiatric Comorbidity in Acne–A Case Control Study," Asia-Pacifi c Psychiatry 11, no. 1 (March 2019): e12340, https://doi.org/10.1111/appy.12340. 2. M. E. P. Seligman and M. Csikszentmihalyi, "Positive Psychology: An Introduction," Flow and the Foundations of Positive Psychology (January 2014): 279–98, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9088-8 _18. 3. Bondade, Hosthota, and Basavaraju, "Stressful Life Events and Psychiatric Comorbidity in Acne–A Case Control Study." 4. V. Niemeier, J. Kupfer, and U. Gieler, "Acne Vulgaris— Psychosomatic Aspects," Journal of the German Society of Dermatology 4 , no. 12 (November 2006): https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1610-0387.2006.06110.x. 5. H. Murad and T. Giesbrecht, "E ectiveness of Positive Insights for Emotional Wellbeing and Stress Reduction: A Four-Week Intervention in Participants Experiencing Cultural Stress," 2018, www. drhowardmurad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ E ectiveness-of-positive-insights-for-emotional- wellbeing-and-stress-reduction-Dr-Howard-Murad.pdf. 6. Murad and Giesbrecht, "E ectiveness of Positive Insights for Emotional Wellbeing and Stress Reduction: A Four-Week Intervention in Participants Experiencing Cultural Stress." 7. Lee, Watson, and Kleyn, "The Impact of Perceived Stress on Skin Ageing;" S. Bondade, A. Hosthota, and V. Basavaraju, "Stressful Life Events and Psychiatric Comorbidity in Acne–A Case Control Study." " " Be imperfect, live longer. —Howard Murad, MD