Socioestheticians in pharmacy

To understand the role of socio-estheticians in pharmacy, it is important to first understand what estheticians do and what their practice entails. Estheticians are licensed skin care professionals who provide treatments for enhancing the health and appearance of the skin. An esthetics license in New York State allows providers to use compounds or procedures including makeup, eyelashes, depilatories, tonics, lotions, waxes or sanding and tweezing. These may be performed manually, mechanically, chemically, or with electrical means and instruments. The licenses are valid for four years.

Most estheticians are usually found in spas and salons, whereas medical estheticians work together with healthcare providers performing laser and light-based procedures. They may be employed by a hospital, medical practice, or any healthcare facility. Additionally, they can be found working in plastic surgery, dermatology, medical spas, and other health, beauty, and fitness establishments that incorporate laser into their business. Since medical estheticians provide care to patients with skin conditions, skin traumas, and aging skin, their role in the pharmaceutical industry involves a multitude of important aspects.

One aspect in which estheticians may play a role in pharmacy includes product development. Estheticians' expertise in skin physiology can provide insight during the development of skincare and cosmetic products and help ensure the products will be safe and effective. They can participate in clinical trials by testing formulations and offer feedback on its cosmetic components. Another aspect includes education, where estheticians can provide pharmaceutical company employees with knowledge about skincare, skin conditions, and the use of skincare products. They may be involved in training sales representatives to communicate effectively about skincare products to healthcare professionals. Furthermore, estheticians can contribute to research projects focused on understanding skin health, creating skincare solutions, and exploring new ingredients for pharmaceutical applications.

Specifically, socioestheticians can contribute to patient care in oncology. Cancer patients experience a multitude of adverse reactions as a result from their chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Some of these include alopecia, changes in nails and pigmentation of the skin, photosensitivity, rash, blistering, and pruritis. Nail changes consist of darkening or developing white streaks. They can become brittle, dry, or cracked as well. Radiation therapy may also cause the skin to become dry and peel, and the area may also appear sunburned or become swollen. Sores may develop that become painful, wet, and infected, otherwise known as moist reactions. Furthermore, stem cell transplants can cause graft-versus-host disease, which is when the patient's body see the tissue as foreign and attack them. This may lead to thickening of the skin, rash, or blisters. Ultimately, these changes may be minor but can be severe as well.

If socioestheticians collaborate with pharmacists to tailor individualized skincare regimens for their patients, they can have the potential to significantly enhance their patients' physical and mental wellbeing, which would strengthen the patients' quality of care. Patients would have a higher self esteem as a result, while also treating the adverse effects they experience from their medications. This not only goes for oncology, but any disease state that has negative impacts on a patient's skin. Ultimately, this approach would foster a comprehensive and improved patient healthcare experience.

References:

1. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/skin-nail-changes#:~:text=Some%20types%20of%20chemotherapy%20can,also%20have%20skin%20pigmentation%20changes.

2. https://nationallaserinstitute.com/blog/medical-aesthetics-training/what-does-a-medical-esthetician-do/

3. https://dos.ny.gov/esthetics

4. https://www.mdanderson.org/patients-family/diagnosis-treatment/emotional-physical-effects/skin-nail-changes.html#:~:text=Your%20nails%20may%20become%20darkened,lift%20up%20from%20the%20nailbed.

   
   

Role of the socio-esthetician in pharmacy

Yu Feng Lin and Fawziya Twam

L’Oreal’s Beauty for a Better Life program brings beauty and wellness treatments to medical and social institutions to support people suffering physically, psychologically or socially. It is a program that offers professional, high-quality beauty treatments to individuals facing illness or fragility. The providers of these treatments are referred to as "socio-aestheticians" and "socio-hairdressers" who have received special training to work with such individuals. These treatments include facial care, manicures, pedicures, massages, makeup services, and hairdressing, all administered with a gentle and empathetic approach.

Socio-aesthetics and socio-hairdressing are specific disciplines that require specialized competencies. For example, socio-aestheticians often undergo comprehensive training programs, such as the CODES program in France, which provides 600 hours of learning. The program acknowledges the importance of professional development for socio-aestheticians and socio-hairdressers.

Participants in the program can choose individual sessions or group workshops. Beyond the treatments, they may also receive guidance on managing aesthetic changes, personal hygiene, relaxation techniques, and building a positive self-image. These treatments serve as a welcome distraction from their challenges and offer moments of peace, contributing to their overall well-being. These treatments play a significant role in helping individuals regain their confidence by feeling comfortable with their appearance, thereby preserving their social identity. The program provides approximately 16,000 people with beauty and wellness treatments annually, delivering a total of 49,000 free treatments in France.

While socio estheticians are greatly appreciated in France, it is unfortunately one of the few places who does. As of now socio estheticians have not been added into our medical care teams.

Cosmetic procedures are on the rise within the US. Of those undergoing such procedures it is estimated in 2018 92% of patients were women. Appearance changes are commonly done within the US to enhance ones features. While many undergo treatments to enhance their image, there are many who do so due to medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease, cancer, and skin conditions. There are also many medications whose side effects lead to unwanted changes in one's appearance. Adding socio estheticians to health care teams may assist in giving patients a more personalized care and increase patients quality of life. One's appearance plays a large role in their quality of life. When a person’s appearance changes due to a medical condition or the medication treatment, it can play a large role on a person’s confidence. This eventually can lead to a decrease in mental health. Prevention is key in such situations. To prevent the downward spiral of dealing with medical issues, appearance changes, and a possible onset of depression, socio estheticians can stop or slow the appearance changes providing comfort to patients. 

Beauty and wellness treatments play a significant role in supporting the recovery of medical patients. There is strong evidence to show that beauty and wellness treatments, as part of a holistic rehabilitation program, make a real difference to people recovering from serious illnesses. These treatments, recognized as 'cancer support treatments' in France since 2003, are particularly beneficial for individuals dealing with serious illnesses such as cancer. Socio-aestheticians, for instance, help cancer patients manage the side effects of treatments like hair loss, skin issues, and nail changes, reducing their anxiety levels. These treatments, combined with relaxing conversations, contribute to restoring both the physical and psychological well-being of patients, making their medical care more humanized and helping them regain a sense of self. According to a survey, 92% of cancer patients who have undergone beauty and wellness treatments reported that they felt distracted from their disease, which promoted mental well-being and self-confidence, therefore increasing their quality of life. Adding such care here in the US can have the same effects on our patients. 

Socio-aestheticians can play a valuable role in the field of pharmacy by contributing to holistic patient care and well-being. Socio-aestheticians can assist patients who are experiencing side effects from their medications. This is particularly relevant for medications that may affect a patient's appearance or skin, leading to issues like hair loss, dry skin, weight gain/loss or nail changes. They can provide guidance and treatments to help patients manage these side effects effectively. This may include skincare routines, advice on selecting suitable cosmetics, and tips on maintaining healthy hair and nails. Through this, patients will receive a more personalized care from their medical team to not only treat their condition but to also keep the patient in a healthy state of mind.  

Patients undergoing long-term medication regimens or dealing with chronic illnesses often face physical and psychological challenges. Socio-aestheticians can provide beauty and wellness treatments to boost patients' self-esteem and confidence, helping them feel better about their appearance despite the challenges they are facing. In addition, beauty and wellness treatments offered by socio-aestheticians can serve as a form of relaxation and stress relief for patients. This can contribute to improved mental well-being, reducing anxiety and depression commonly associated with chronic illnesses or the side effects of medications.

Integrating socio-aestheticians into pharmacy settings humanizes healthcare services. It goes beyond the mere dispensing of medications and shows a commitment to addressing the holistic needs of patients, including their emotional and aesthetic concerns.

References:

Beauty and wellness treatments. (n.d.). https://www.fondationloreal.com/our-programs-inclusive-beauty/beauty-and-wellness-treatments

Preceptor, A. (2020a, May 3). What is a (psycho-)socioestheticican?. The SocioEsthetician. https://www.the-socioesthetician-international.com/forum/pharm-d-candidate-appe/what-is-a-psycho-socioestheticican 

MediLexicon International. (n.d.). Cosmetic surgery is on the rise, New Data reveal. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324693 

Quittkat, H. L., Hartmann, A. S., Düsing, R., Buhlmann, U., & Vocks, S. (2019, December 17). Body dissatisfaction, importance of appearance, and body appreciation in men and women over the lifespan. Frontiers in psychiatry. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6928134/

There are roles for socio-estheticians everywhere such as retail pharmacy and even within hospitals. They can help patients with recommendations on dangerous ingredients within a product, what can help reduce stress, and other complementary alternative strategies for those who want something more than just conventional medicines. One of the things socio-estheticians can do is help many patients who suffer from chronic illnesses. This includes diseases such as cancer, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, etc. Sometimes cancer patients may have negative feelings towards their appearance because chemotherapy is tough on the body and can impact areas such as the nails and hair. Certain chemotherapy agents such as taxanes and anthracyclines have shown to affect the nail bed by causing splitting, crumbling, and breakage which can lead to opportunistic pathogens growing underneath the nails and infiltrating the deeper layers of the skin. Socio-estheticians can offer advice to patients in terms of how to care for their nails, what products may be safe for the nails, and antibiotics or antifungals that may be appropriate to use in these patients.

Socio-estheticians can also help patients who suffer from acne and provide better ways to care for their skin. Depending on the severity of the patient’s acne, socio-estheticians may recommend over-the-counter products such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide for more mild cases. For the moderate to severe cases of acne vulgaris they could recommend adapalene or a retinoid such as isotretinoin. Pharmacists can warn patients and provide counseling on the harsher chemicals that may be teratogenic. The teratogenic drugs such as isotretinoin need to be monitored more carefully with patients and providers being a part of an iPLEDGE program. However, these products do produce positive results for most patients who have been taking them for a long time. Other formulations for skin care products include chemical peels, phototherapy, or even vitamin and mineral supplementation. Some patients may find relief in different formulations compared to other patients. For example, a patient who is usually non-adherent to continuous and strict regimens may not want to use phototherapy due to the frequent visits to a clinic. Other patients may not feel comfortable taking drugs and want a more natural way to take care of their skin, so they may want to use natural oral supplements such as zinc or vitamin B3.

Another strategy that is becoming popular within healthcare field is integrative and complementary health approaches which is similar to palliative care. Socio-estheticians can play a role in this aspect of pharmacy because they help patients by treating their symptoms and providing pain relief. In this area of medicine, multiple providers collaborate with the patient and treat their entire body rather than treating each individual organ. Some of the techniques used in these approaches may include conventional medicines in combination with massage therapy, meditation, acupuncture, changes in a patient’s diet, etc. These approaches are usually used for patients who suffer from chronic or terminal illnesses. Integrative and complementary health approaches have been shown to provide patients with necessary relief of their symptoms. Some studies have demonstrated that more patients “felt better” when they participated in this approach compared to using conventional medicines alone. Some of the conventional medicines that are strenuous on the body include chemotherapy agents, biologics, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. Many patients find it hard to take these medications and sometimes have to keep switching prescriptions until they find one that is right for them. This may also have a psychological impact on a patient because they may feel that none of the medications are working. However, if the conventional medications are coupled with complementary alternative approaches, the patient may find relief faster and may have a more positive outlook on managing their disease.