Hygiene for Massage Students

Bacterial Infectious Diseases

  1. Impetigo – mostly affects children, caused by strep or staph organisms. Superficial v vesicle which ruptures and forms a thick yellowish crust.  Most commonly on the face but can spread through scratching
  2. Staph Infections – Infection of hair follicles, oil glands or sweat glands cased by Staph organisms which cause inflammation and formation of abscesses
  3. Food Poisoning – illness due to ingestion of foods that are contaminated with bacteria
  4. Tuberculosis (TB) inflammatory infection commonly involving the respiratory system currently on the upsurge due to more drug resistant strains
  5. Tetanus – infection which causes painful contraction of voluntary muscles

Viral Infectious Diseases

  1. Verruca Vulgaris – Common Wart -raised, rough cauliflower like papules
  2. Herpes Simplex – cold sore/fever blisters. Highly contagious.  Also accompanied by fever, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes
  3. Herpes Zoster – shingles.  Caused by same virus that causes chicken pox. Viruses live in the dorsal root ganglia
  4. AIDS
  5. Hepatitis
  6. Chicken pox, measles and mumps – highly contagious through respiratory pathways and direct contact. Blotches, rashes or spots and fever.
  7. Rabies
  8. Flu and cold  – fever, chills, headache, myalgia, cough and sore throat

Fungal Diseases (not usually contagious)

  1. Athletes foot- scales, itching and redness between toes and soles of the feet
  2. Ringworm – red ringed patches of vesicles with itching and scaling
  3. Thrush and yeast infections

Allergens – non infectious that affect the skin

  1. Contact Dermatitis – skin reaction to external substance chemical irritant or hypersensitivity reaction, characterized by rash limited to area of contact
  2. Atopic dermatitis – inflammation of the skin from food allergies and inhalants
  3. Hives – allergic reaction to stings, food allergies, drug allergies, or nut based oils

Other –

  1. Seborrhea – dandruff
  2. Psoriasis and eczema – mild itchy, red dry spots and silvery scales or dry cracked fissured skin with unknown cause
  3. Acne – chronic inflammation of oil glands

 Introduction to Massage Therapy (Lww Massage Therapy & Bodywork Educational Series) – Good Section on Universal Precautions for massage therapists

Universal and Standard Precautions – Home Study Course from Health Positive.  Read the material they present and answer test questions to get CE credit.  You can create a free login to view class material and test questions before purchasing the class

Understanding hygiene is essential for massage therapists to keep themselves safe from infectious diseases and to keep them from

 spreading between their clients.

The main goal is to discourage and prevent growth or spread of pathogens and allergens.  Sanitizing and disinfecting your massage office consists of keeping your table, face cradle, sheets, bottles of lotion/oil, hydrotherapy equipment as well as the carpet, walls and counters clean and sanitary. 

Clients also may have allergies and sensitivities to mold and any scents or laundry detergent that you use so using hypo-allergetic products can help.

After every massage you must wash your hands and forearms to keep them free from bacteria. Proper manicure skills will keep nail beds clean and smooth to not leave scratches on clients.

See also:

Massagenerd.com – Osha and Massage

 Universal and Standard Precautions Home Study Course from Health Positive.  Read the material they present and answer test questions to get CE credit.  You can create a free login to view class material and test questions before purchasing the class

Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists Google Books Excerpt

Pathology Reference Books

 Introduction to Massage Therapy (Lww Massage Therapy & Bodywork Educational Series) – Good Section on Universal Precautions for massage therapists

Antiseptic – a chemical agent used to retard the growth of germs.  It does not kill them.  Antiseptics can retard bacterial growth.  They do not affect viruses or funguses.

Asepsis – free of disease and germs

Bactericide – a chemical agent that destroys bacteria but not their spores

Disinfectant– a chemical agent that destroys germs

Sanitize – to clean by the use of an agent using one of the above types of products

Sepsis – poisoning due to a pathogen

Sterile – free from germs and spores

Sterilization– to make sterile and free from bacteria, viruses and funguses

Recommended products for cleaning massage tables:
10 parts water and 1 part bleach

Use hot water for sheets and hot dryer cycle.

Universal and Standard Precautions – Home Study Course from Health Positive.  Read the material they present and answer test questions to get CE credit.  You can create a free login to view class material and test questions before purchasing the class

 Introduction to Massage Therapy (Lww Massage Therapy & Bodywork Educational Series) – Good Section on Universal Precautions for massage therapists