Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1547015
70 ASCP Skin Deep Autumn 2026 WHAT ARE INVISIBLE CONDITIONS? Invisible conditions, sometimes referred to as invisible disabilities or non-apparent disabilities, affect about 10 percent of those living in the US. 1 These conditions are physical, mental, or neurological ailments that can affect a person's pain tolerance and ability to move, process information, and/or process sensory input. Unlike disabilities that may require use of a mobility device or aid, these conditions are "invisible" unless the person with the condition discloses this information. A wide range of conditions fall under this category (see "Invisible Conditions You Might Encounter in Your Spa"), and this means you might already have an existing client living with one. While this is true, you should never assume a client has an invisible condition. Some invisible conditions might present with the same symptoms, but even if you have two clients with the same condition, it's important to remember that they won't necessarily present the same. EXPERIENCING ACCOMMODATIONS AS A CLIENT While traveling in Vienna, Austria, I wanted to book a spa day. My body was aching from the long f light and lots of walking around the city. I researched highly reputable places, emailed one of the spas, and explained my conditions. I was pleasantly surprised when I received a response from the manager letting me know they would accommodate my needs and that I could use the sauna and steam room and salt room before my appointment. This reassured me that I was going to be taken care of and that they had good protocols in place of supporting their clients. There are many triggers to ATN, and exacerbating the pain into something completely unbearable was not what I wanted. I went to the spa, completed the intake, changed into my robe, and went to explore the amenities. The salt room was relaxing, with a semicircle of soft comfortable lounge chairs, dim twinkling lights, and large orange glowing salt rocks. There were sauna and steam rooms, two cold-blast showers, and an ice station for cooling down. A relaxation area had snacks, water, assorted teas, and a tiny chocolate truff le on a plate next to my chair. The therapist, Fiona, then brought me back for my massage. For the prone portion (which can sometimes be completely inaccessible for me), there was a cool, water-filled pad over the face cradle. She limited the amount of time I spent face down and propped me up for the remainder of the treatment because lying completely f lat doesn't feel great on the back of my head. I left feeling cared for. A few days later, I booked again for a facial. (Typically, I only get facials from my esthetician pals who know me well and know how not to touch my face in a way that triggers a f lare.) Her light touch and gentle masking technique were very soothing. She opted for cool compresses instead of heat on my numb areas, since I can't always gauge high temperatures there. Knowing my conditions, she decided on a combination of a relaxing foot massage and a gentle scalp ritual she performed with a comb. She used a stone comb from my hairline toward the crown, then lightly massaged with her fingertips while carefully avoiding my tender spots and craniotomy site. The feeling of someone simply combing my hair with oil put me in a blissful state. The facial was just as restorative as the massage. In that room, cared for so thoughtfully, I felt like myself again. STOCKSY