The answer to this isn’t cut and dried. It will depend on the treatment, your condition and the length of time your condition may affect you for. I’ve had many disappointed clients at the point of consultation due to a medical condition making them unsuitable for treatment or requiring a letter from a GP to go ahead, but my answer to them is always the same. If I carry out a treatment that has a negative impact or affects the treatment they are receiving from another therapist or a medical practitioner, I could do more damage to their health by continuing the treatment.
Please don’t be offended if we ask you to take a letter to your GP or consultant for their permission to go ahead with a treatment.
Common conditions are:
Skin Conditions
- Both eczema and psoriasis are ok for most treatments, unless they directly affect the area to be treated, for example affecting the eyes when you want your lashes tinted. It would not be appropriate to carry out that treatment, while a reflexology treatment may be perfectly suitable if the lower limb area is not affected.
- Rosacea and acne do not usually stop treatments, unless you are being treated by a topical skin treatment, at which time we would rather you wait until your practitioner tells you it is ok to receive treatments.
- Fungal infections such as athlete’s foot and ringworm would mean the area affected cannot be treated until it has cleared up completely.
- Verrucas and wards would cause the affected area to be untreatable, however would not hinder other treatments.
- Rashes will depend on where they are and what the causes are. Speak to your GP.
Infections
- colds, flu, cough and bronchitis tend to make you feel bad, so it’s not a good idea to have a treatment.
- infectious diseases: please remain at home until you are fully better.
- fever: please remain at home until you are free from illness, as you have an infection in your body.
Cancer
Dependent on your condition, however if you are under treatment, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, we are unable to treat you unless your GP writes to us and lets us know a therapy is suitable for you.
In the first trimester, we cannot treat you. For those after 12 weeks, there are still treatments we cannot carry out. Lash treatments are unsuitable, as are products with chemicals and scents, due to pregnant women being unable to take antihistamine medication in the event of an adverse reaction.
Other Conditions
- lice, scabies or other: please do not come for treatment until you are fully clear of the conditions.
- unusual conditions: please refer to your GP
- undiagnosed lumps and bumps: please refer to your GP
Your Therapist
Please remember, that if you arrive for an appointment with a contra indicated condition, ie one that we cannot treat you for, and you have not disclosed that, we cannot fill that space and reserve the right to charge for a portion of that treatment. Cancelling your appointment has a monetary loss of value for us, but we don’t want to put you at risk.
Please do not be angry with us for asking you to go and see your GP, it is for your own benefit, to ensure you do not receive a treatment that may make your health condition worse.