Burleigh 07 5535 5218   Broadbeach 07 5539 8830

Lumps, Rashes and Massage

Rashes and lumps and massage

What happens if you have a lump or rash on your body and you want to have a massage?

In fact, there are lots of different lumps or skin conditions that can occur,  here are a few common ones:

Ganglion cyst – a non-cancerous lump usually on tendons and joint areas like hands, wrists and feet. Filled with fluid. Often not painful but might cause issues if impinging on a nerve.

Lipoma – excess fatty cell deposits in a lump that can move under your hands if pressed.  Sits between layer of skin and muscle.  Usually not painful unless impinging a nerve.

Neurofibroma – soft bumps that are on or under the skin which are a type of nerve tumour. Usually benign but on rare occasion can be malignant. You may experience mild pain or numbness.

Epidermoid Cysts – hard bumps on skin from build up of keratin stuck under the skin.  Slow growing and range in size.

Cherry Angioma – a collection of small blood vessels in a red mole. Not usually a cause for a concern unless bleeding or changing appearance.  They may bleed if scratched, rubbed or cut.

Psoriasis – whitish-silver scaly skin that builds up to inflamed red sore patches. A chronic condition where there is a rapid build up of skin cells. There can be several forms of psoriasis.

Christmas Tree Rash (pityriasis rosea) – an itchy, fine, scaly rash that can take the shape of Christmas tree sometimes. Usually appears as a patch on the chest,  abdomen or back and then spreads.

Heat rash (miliaria) – can be either clear fluid bumps with no other symptoms or small red clustered bumps that have a stinging or prickling sensation. Usually from hot, humid temperatures or overdressing.

Swimmer’s Itch (cercarial dermatitis) – an allergic reaction to a waterborne parasite that causes a red, burning itchy rash which should clear up quickly but may leave small bumps or blisters for a short while.

Rashes and Massage

The skin and body have many types of conditions that can appear for the long-term or short-term.  Because massage works directly with your skin and body it’s important to check any unknown bumps, lumps or rashes that appear with your doctor before having your treatment.  The massage therapist cannot diagnose for you and may have to avoid the area until they know it’s safe to proceed.

The majority of bumps and skin conditions aren’t a reason to worry. But it is always a good action to check in with a doctor if you aren’t sure what it is or to be sure if you can have massage in the area.  Keep in mind that massage can cause heat, friction or pressure which may worsen the condition. Aside from conditions where there is a risk of being contagious it may be more comfortable for you to wait until things have cleared up or settled down before coming in for a massage.

Don’t be afraid to talk to your therapist if you have any concerns, there is no shame in checking and your therapist will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Sources

The Mayo Clinic

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ganglion-cyst/symptoms-causes/syc-20351156, 9 Jan 2020
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lipoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20374470, 9 Jan 2020
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/neurofibroma/cdc-20352978, 9 Jan 2020
https://www.mayoclinic.org/skin-rash/sls-20077087?s=2, 9 Jan 2020
https://www.mayoclinic.org/skin-rash/sls-20077087?s=5, 9 Jan 2020
https://www.mayoclinic.org/skin-rash/sls-20077087?s=12, 9 Jan 2020

The Healthline

https://www.healthline.com/health/epidermoid-cysts, 9 Jan 2020
https://www.healthline.com/health/cherry-angioma#causes, 9 Jan 2020
https://www.healthline.com/health/psoriasis#types, 9 Jan 2020

Share:

Product Enquiry