Hello,

 

I got an email from a PTA mom who had a total hysterectomy last September.  She is currently taking estrogen but feels completely out of whack and says her skin looks horrible.  She is looking for some book recommendations.  I am too new to the industry to give her proper advice so I am looking to you all for some recommendations for her.  Thanks so much.

 

Rachael

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When she says her skin looks horrible, what is she saying?  Is it acne or hyperpigmentation or lax skin?
Until her body has adjusted to her hormone therapy, all you can do for her is offer "band-aid" treatments. Balancing, balancing!! The common misconception is to treat the skin as acne. This is a hormonally driven skin condition. Over stripping the skin can cause more irritation and imbalance in some but not all clients. Hormones effect everything about us. Do not overlook natural remedies such as using pure essential oils in treatment. They can be added to your rinse water, product for massage, and into the soles of the feet. Some suggestions for oils would be Lavender, Clary Sage, Chamomile, jasmine, and geranium to name a few. Remember to use small amounts. Rosacea products can also create healing and balancing. The essential oils will also circulate through the blood stream to help create balance inside and out. Everyone's skin is different so you will have to experiment to see what works for her. Start balancing and move your way up. welcome to the industry and good luck to you!!!
Thank you!  I am still waiting for more specifics about her condition and I'm not sure about her diet...I am definitely going to recommend hydration and proper nutrition regardless...I will update once I hear from her.
I agree with Tiffany! Great job! But I want to add that it is difficult to know what route to take without SEEING her skin! A client can TELL you all they want what they are seeing on their face and how they are interpreting it, but without actually seeing and identifying their skin issues yourself as a Professional, there is no way to really know what they are dealing with. I like Tiffany's answer because it is mild and can help regardless of what is going on, as long as she doesn't have any allergies. Make sure she doesn't have any allergies to any essential oils that you may recommend~
Definitely.  I want to find a good book on hormonal changes to the skin as well...

April Noye said:
I agree with Tiffany! Great job! But I want to add that it is difficult to know what route to take without SEEING her skin! A client can TELL you all they want what they are seeing on their face and how they are interpreting it, but without actually seeing and identifying their skin issues yourself as a Professional, there is no way to really know what they are dealing with. I like Tiffany's answer because it is mild and can help regardless of what is going on, as long as she doesn't have any allergies. Make sure she doesn't have any allergies to any essential oils that you may recommend~
Okay, call me confused but exactly what kind of a book is she looking for?  A book on skin care or a book on how to counteract the side effects of a total hysterectomy?  I'd suggest she contact her physician (preferably his nurse practitioner, if he has one) about the latter.  Remind her that she had major surgery only 3-1/2 months ago which is a huge trauma to the body so she's going to feel out of whack. Hell, it takes months just to get the anesthetic out of your system. Add to that the fact that her body is thrown into hormonal hysteria that will take quite a while to adjust and she's bound to be unhappy about the way she feels and looks. She needs to be kind to herself and not stress out about her normal, natural recovery from this assault. Perhaps a calming, soothing, relaxing facial is in order . . . . .
So true Pamela - anasthesia can really wreak havoc on all of your systems.  It takes awhile to get back on track.  I'm still curious about my previous question that was never addressed.  When she says her skin looks horrible, what does she mean? That can mean alot of things.....

Pamela Cantor said:
Okay, call me confused but exactly what kind of a book is she looking for?  A book on skin care or a book on how to counteract the side effects of a total hysterectomy?  I'd suggest she contact her physician (preferably his nurse practitioner, if he has one) about the latter.  Remind her that she had major surgery only 3-1/2 months ago which is a huge trauma to the body so she's going to feel out of whack. Hell, it takes months just to get the anesthetic out of your system. Add to that the fact that her body is thrown into hormonal hysteria that will take quite a while to adjust and she's bound to be unhappy about the way she feels and looks. She needs to be kind to herself and not stress out about her normal, natural recovery from this assault. Perhaps a calming, soothing, relaxing facial is in order . . . . .
Laura I asked her for more specifics but didn't get a response. Maybe she was just looking for a quick fix-type response, I don't know. Thank you all for your recommendations though. It's nice to know I have knowledgeable people to ask!

I've always been concerned about chemicals which I feel all should avoid in general.  Here's what I have been looking at which I find convincingly safe for everybody including pregnant, menopausal, women suffering from allergies, etc. women:

  1. Troubled Skin Care in 3 steps:  http://youtu.be/7qQlMsiEvoQ
  2. Makeup Remover, Cleanser, Peeler Treatment (removes dead skin and lifts) - 4 steps:  http://youtu.be/RF8yFD2nPnI
  3. Cream System:  http://youtu.be/vTE-gi4uBNs
  4. CompanyValues:  http://youtu.be/NCfset6cvI
  5. Atomy health:  http://youtu.be/Tg1C-4Y5WjA 
Hormones a
I agree with everyone on "see what her skin looks like first" if you can. I have to say though that based on my experience, I get this feeling that if she wanted to go to her doctor for this problem, she would have already. I feel there's a reason why she went to you, to an Esthetician, for help instead. So if I am right, on that note, I can say from the experience I've had with my clients and even with my own skin & hormonal changes, and knowledge with products and ingredients; that depending on what her specific skin condition actually is, I can make a few recommendations and give you a few tips that you can have on hand for when the time comes...
First, ask her is she is allergic to anything. "Bentonite Clay" is amazing, if her problem is Acne; if you get the right one, specifically "100% pure Bentonite Clay"; it is very strong in detoxifying, but no irritating chemicals, it works quickly, and even if she doesn't have acne, it doesn't have to be used just as a facial mask; but she can actually drink it, its a highly effective natural remedy that is used to heal and help many problems, hormonal changes being one of them. I have had a lot of luck with it myself. I recommend that you at least bring it up to her. If her skin is really irritated and sensitive right now; maybe really dry, then I can tell you to be very very careful, I highly recommend going Natural on her, really either way I recommend going natural in a situation like this, I can recommend a few products from the private label company I use (Botanical Science); I don't know if you're far enough into the field to be at a place to order them; but there may be alternatives, many of these products consist of Peptides, Vitamin C, Antioxidants, and soothing Botanicals like Chamomile Extract. These are key ingredients, if used correctly, to REPAIRING the skin during and after situations such as hormonal changes. If she is experiencing both dryness & breakouts; Hyaluronic Acid is a key ingredient, it is pure, and non-sensitizing for all skin types, and it will also give her anti-aging benefits. We all have Hyaluronic acid in our skin; it's what keeps us hydrated, it pulls in hydration below the surface of the skin unlike most moisturizers which leave a layer of oil on the top surface of the skin; but as we age, we lose it. So its important to put it back in our skin.
If you are interested in where to find any of these ingredients; feel free to drop me a message and I can assist you with that. Eminence is also a great organic skincare line, that consists of many of these repairing ingredients I speak of; as long as she's using the right ones. Once again, I can assist if need be.
Some tips: if she sensitive or breaking out badly, Stay away from too many essential oils; some of them are considered natural fragrances; and like any fragrance can be irritating and pore clogging, so can these. Go fragrance free. Look for natural extracts; majority of them are beneficial without the risk of causing more problems. Go alcohol free. A good alternative to alcohol, is natural "Witch hazel extract"; it has all of the same anti bacterial effects as alcohol without the harsh side effects. The first 8/9 ingredients in a product are what truly count the most. Don't fall for skincare products that say "non comedogenic, hypoallergenic, etc etc"; labels mean nothing, a highly comedogenic ingredient can be the second and third ingredient in a product that says "non comedogenic"; an commonly used example of a comedogenic ingredient is "Sodium Laurel (or Laureth) Sulfate"; stay far away from it, it is pore clogging (comedogenic) and irritating (allergenic). I really wouldn't recommend anything abrasive; like chemical peels, microderm, or even really rough grainy scrubs, this soon after surgery, especially if she's saying her skin is a mess, but maybe down the road in the future. I hope this helps at all, and if you have any questions about what I posted, please feel free to ask. Good luck!

Your client has just experienced a surgically induced menopause.  While most people take months to years to achieve this, your client, through the loss of her uterus and ovaries has completed this process in a few hours.  For this reason the changes she is experiencing is much more dramatic.

First, re: her horemone replacement. Is she using bioidenticals?  Also, what are they doing about the change in her progesterone level? Changes in progesterone levels are at least as significant as the decrease in estrogen?  I would advise her to seek out an expert near her home in horemone replacement as this is a fairly specialized treatment option.

Finally, a great resource for herself as well as you, is a series of books by (the late)  John Lee MD " What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause" and "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premeonpause" .  There is a third book in the series called "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer" .  Knowledge is power and the books are scientific based, but written for the everyday person.

It will take some time for her skin and general heath to balance out.  By understanding this process and offering her a valid explanation for why she is feeling the way she does, you will build a trusting relationship between the two of you, and open a new source for future referrals as well.  Treat her skin gently, and focus on rehydration, and treatments to enhance skin metabolism.

Good Luck!  Linda RN, LE

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