Allergic Contact Dermatitis

A Concern for Spa and Esthetics professionals

What is it?

Dermatitis is an itchy skin condition that can result from exposure to irritants. An irritant can be anything from water, soaps, detergents, or even friction. Irritant contact dermatitis can occur in anyone. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), on the other hand, is a condition that occurs in a percentage of the population who has a reaction to a substance (an allergen) that would be harmless to a person who is not allergic to that substance.

What does it look like?

Itching, redness, swelling and blisters can be local, as in someone who has a reaction on their wrist from the nickel in their watch, or it may be generalized, such as from the use of cosmetic skin preparations or topical medications.

Who gets it?

As with most allergies, the first contact with an allergen doesn’t usually provoke a reaction. An allergic response can often come as a complete surprise to someone who has not been prone to sensitivities. Among health care workers, an issue of increasing relevance is latex allergy, and for hairstylists, estheticians and spa professionals, ACD is becoming an important concern, most likely as a result of exposure to products used in their trade. Allergic contact dermatitis is a major occupational disease, and in serious cases, may result in an inability to work.

What causes it?

As with health care workers, and the cumulative exposure to latex gloves causing ACD, those who work in the health and beauty industry have cumulative exposure to products they use in treatments on their clients. Research points to chemical fragrances, colours and preservatives as potentially causing numerous skin irritations.

How is it treated?

While treatment with topical corticosteroids and in some instances systemic corticosteroids can reduce symptoms and prevent complications, the only real solution is avoidance of the allergen. In the case of those allergic to chemical fragrances and preservatives in cosmetics, education on ingredients and compounds is essential to avoiding flare-ups. Frustratingly, since a fragrance may contain thousands of individual chemicals, and manufacturers are not required to list each one, avoidance can be challenging. The list of chemical preservatives used is long, and may include: Formaldehyde, and compounds releasing formaldehyde (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium 15) and Parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butylparaben).

While consumers facing allergic reactions are encouraged to read product labels and avoid products that contain the allergens they are sensitive to, it is even more crucial for professionals in the industry. Not only are they protecting their clients, but they are protecting their own skin, not to mention their careers.

About Moor Spa

Moor Spa skin, body and wellness products contain no synthetic preservatives, no artificial fragrances, no artificial colours, no petroleum derivatives, are not tested on animals, and are made in Canada. Distributed by L'Moor.

I learned a new word the other day: puffery.

The official definition of that word is as follows:

"term frequently used to denote the exaggerations reasonably to be expected of a seller as to the degree of quality of his product, the truth or falsity of which cannot be precisely determined."

In other words, baloney.

And it's what companies are feeding you - the spa therapists, owners and estheticians, as they try to market their products to you.

Coming up this week is Toronto's spring spa show, Esthetique Spa International, and I think it is incumbent on all of us, as we walk the trade show floor, to keep the word "puffery" front and centre in our minds.

Here is a link to an excellent article in the Harvard Business Review Research Blog:

The Power and Perils of Puffery

When measuring the marketing claims of the various exhibitors you meet, and the speakers you hear, you might consider asking some of the following questions:

• Does the marketer make claims about a single aspect of the product, while avoiding talking about the less charming points? (i.e. indicating "no parabens", but failing to mention using formaldehyde releasers as preservatives)


• Does the marketer use vague language in their promotional strategy? (i.e. "voted the best" without indicating who voted)


• Does the product have a third-party endorsement label? If so, is it a recognizable and accredited organization?


• Does the exhibitor answer your questions fully, without verbal tapdancing? To answer this question, you have to trust your instincts.

Never has the term "buyer beware" been more relevant. Expect the exhibitors to respect your intelligence, and when visiting shows or entertaining vendors in your business, do your research, and don't forget to ask critical questions.

Moor Spa, Canadian manufacturer of 100% Natural Source Skincare, Bodycare and Wellness products, is committed to bringing integrity and fairness to the spa and wellness industry. Ask us your questions, and if we don't know the answer, we'll find out for you.

Body Treatments, the key to increasing spa revenue

Body Wraps are the quintessential spa treatment, a photo of which you’ll find in almost every spa’s marketing materials. Why, then, do many spa owners and managers tell us that they are unsatisfied with the quantity of these services they perform, and that they would like to do more?

Body wraps truly offer great benefits, to all concerned, so it's simply a matter of identifying the benefits, and communicating them to spa therapists and clients, as well as employing some consistent strategies to keep your schedule full.

Benefits to the Spa

• Greater revenue per service hour. The benchmark for service dollars is generally the revenue generated by one hour of massage, so if a massage provides $80 of revenue per hour, you can usually expect that the same hour of a body wrap brings $100-120. A few extra dollars in product cost can increase service revenue by up to $40!


• Massage therapists who perform this service can often offer an insurance receipt, as it falls under the “hydrotherapy” area of their scope of practice. The ability to obtain a receipt can be a draw for many clients.


• Many body wraps, such as Moor Spa’s Moor Gel and Seaweed Gel, don’t need a wet room to perform the service, which opens the door for many more spas to provide the service without costly construction in the spa.

Benefits to the therapist

• A body wrap is much less physically demanding for the massage therapist who performs it, which can extend his or her career lifespan. It also offers the therapist variety and prevents career stagnation.


• A body wrap often helps the client recover from muscle pain and soreness more quickly, which adds to the therapist’s fulfillment.

Benefits to the client

• Body wraps have an added therapeutic value, above and beyond a simple massage. Body wraps work to increase blood circulation, nourish the body’s systems, eliminate toxins and provide an anti-inflammatory effect which can relieve pain from conditions like arthritis.


• As a high-touch service, clients derive tremendous pleasure from a full body wrap, which can include exfoliation, cocooning with product (Moor Spa Body Mask, Moor Spa Seaweed Gel, White Gold Wellness Chalk), and a light, finishing massage.

How to market these services

The key to “selling” any service is knowledge! The person in the best position to sell any spa experience is your Spa Receptionist or concierge, your client’s point of first contact with your business. We often recommend things that we know, understand and enjoy, so shouldn’t your staff know firsthand how delicious a body wrap can be? It’s vital that your receptionist be part of the ongoing training of your staff, and she must not only know your menu but also have experienced all your services. In our experience, we often find when we visit spas that the receptionist has never had a body scrub, a wrap or any body treatment other than perhaps a massage. How can she express passion for a service that she either doesn’t know or hasn’t fallen in love with?

Here is a cost effective list of things you can do to market body services without breaking your advertising/marketing budget.

• Make ongoing training mandatory for all staff including receptionists, stylists, and estheticians – both full and part time. If you haven’t had training in a while, schedule another session. Suggest that non-technical staff be a model for the hands-on portion of training. Make sure as many of your staff as possible experience the treatments. For the staff performing the services, competence and confidence come with lots of practice, and in experiencing it themselves.


• As each guest arrives, offer them a tour of the spa section of your business. You will be surprised with the number of regular clients who do not know the full range of services you offer.


• Make it part of the booking process to mention at least one body service to every guest as a suggested service.


• Have your staff with open time slots offer small complimentary treatments (such as a neck and shoulder massage with Moor Spa Tension Balm) to waiting guests. Your clients will feel special, their wait time will fly by, and the time spent will offer your staff the opportunity to learn about the purchase motivation of your guests. Your client will also experience a portion of the pampering effect they will feel if they choose a full treatment.


• Educate your staff by teaching them to use words designed to convey the spa experience. Explain the health benefits of spa treatments in understandable terms. They should also talk about the benefits the client will receive by having the treatment, i.e. improve the texture, firm, tighten and tone the skin, relieve dry and itchy skin.

Work to build caring and respectful relationships with clients. Make them want to spend their free time with you – then they’ll be more likely to try the treatments you suggest.