Sunburns and Massage Therapy

The hot months of July and August are the best time to get outdoors, especially when you can find some cool water to help beat the heat. Unfortunately, even with sunscreen many people manage to get painful sunburns from too much time outside. The myth is that if you have a sunburn, you should forego your routine massage appointment to allow your skin to heal. But, did you know that in some cases a massage may actually be beneficial to helping your skin repair and replenish after a sunburn?

Massage Therapy for Sunburns

Before you cancel your appointment for a healthy massage due to a sunburn, consider the possible benefits. In most cases, if the sunburn is a few days old and not painful to the touch, there are forms of massage that can help soothe and repair your skin. Also, if your sunburn is localized to only certain areas of your body, we can avoid those areas if they are still tender. At Massage Heights, we offer several options and Elevations that may be just what you need to help soothe that red, dry skin. Here are a few benefits of having a massage when you have a sunburn.

• Aromatherapy and plant oils. For first time guests and members, aromatherapy is included for free with our massages and can be beneficial to help heal a sunburn. Many plant oils can be healing to the skin, such as lavender or jojoba oil and aloe vera gel. Moisturizing the skin with natural oils can help it repair and minimize the damage to the skin.
• Increased circulation. Massage helps improve circulation, which can help your body naturally heal the burned areas of skin.
• Healthy healing. Massage therapy relaxes your body, relieves stress and promotes healthy well-being, making it the perfect remedy when your body is trying to heal from a sunburn. Like any injury, your body will recover faster when it is feeling its best.

Talk to Your Massage Therapist

Of course, there are severe sunburns that are too sensitive to be touched and need time to heal. If you are not sure whether you are ready to have a massage, talk to one of our Massage Therapists before you cancel your appointment. There may be options to work around the affected areas or variations that could still be beneficial. Even for mild sunburns, let your Therapist know about your skin condition and whether the sunburn is still tender.

Our focus at Massage Heights is always to promote the health and well-being of our guests. Sunburns can be dangerous to your health and we recommend that you use every precaution to protect yourself from sun damage. However, if you do get a little too much sun this summer, let us help you heal your skin and body faster with a therapeutic massage.