Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1547015
Peace of mind for your property. Add Business Personal Property Insurance at ascpskincare.com 63 F MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS A PR ACTITIONER At my studio, I specialize in areola tattooing for breast cancer survivors. Many of my clients tell me different versions of the same story. They go through years of surgeries, screenings, chemotherapy, and breast reconstruction and are left scarred and with their skin and hair different than before chemo. They can be embarrassed to let their partner see them naked and feel like their breasts are not their own. But with my skill of tattooing, and in just two hours, I can contribute to their healing. I love seeing the look on my clients' faces when they look in the mirror after we're finished—the sadness seems to melt away. I once had a client who came in to have her eyebrows tattooed. She told me she and her husband were getting divorced after 20 years. She told me about his constant cutdowns and insults, and how after decades of verbal abuse she decided to leave. She cried and told me she wanted to feel pretty again. She admitted she bought eyebrows because she was scared to start dating in her 40s. EMERGING RESEARCH Although more research is needed, there are emerging studies suggesting that massage, in conjunction with care from a doctor or mental health professional, can aid in treatment for those suffering from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. According to one independent study, "Therapeutic massage has demonstrated stimulatory effects on cortical regions that exhibit functional dysregulation in dissociation and post-traumatic stress disorder." 2 And an article that reviewed and summarized research regarding massage and psychiatric disorders found that "although the data are limited, some findings have suggested that massage may acutely decrease hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity, have a positive effect on immune function, enhance parasympathetic tone, and modulate brain circuitry." 3 Many beauty treatments involve light massage, or hands-on touch, which means they may be beneficial, but in my experience it's not just massage that can have a positive effect for people who've experienced significant trauma. For clients dealing with trauma, their time in your treatment room may be their time for feeling safe, letting go, and making an effort toward learning/displaying self-love.