The ads
are enticing and hard to miss: A serene atmosphere featuring relaxed and
beautiful people, all of whom ostensibly got that way by living the
"spa" life.
In fact,
from day spas to weekend spas to weeklong spa getaways, this form of
"healthy" relaxation has become so popular that a 2006 survey by the
International Spa Association (ISPA) reports one-quarter of all American adults
- some 57 million folks - plus 4 million teens have had at least one visit to a
spa.
Among the
reasons cited: Stress reduction and relief, soothing sore joints and muscles,
and simply feeling better about oneself. And experts say the survey findings
doesn't surprise them.
"Going
to a spa is a way of getting taken care of that is psychologically and
culturally acceptable -- and we can carry that feeling of being cared for with
us for a period of time, and very often that can help us cope better with
stress," says NYU professor of psychiatry Virginia Sadock, MD.
Moreover,
she says, most spa treatments involve being touched, a key element in helping
us relax and feel better.
"Physical
contact is necessary to our well-being, and even if the touching is from a
stranger, if that stranger is a professional there to pamper you, that touch
will have a beneficial effect," says Sadock.
And at
least some studies show that these benefits can translate into better health.
In one study of more than 3,300 Japanese government workers, frequency of spa
use was linked to better physical and mental health, including better quality
sleep and fewer sick days.
In a
similar study on German data conducted by researchers from Florida State
University and George Mason University, spa therapy reduced both absenteeism
from work and hospitalizations.
But are
all spa treatments equal? And are there any hidden dangers that might prove
unhealthy? WebMD discovered some surprising truths along the route to better
health.
Spas: Are They Safe?
Who could
forget the headlines that nearly wiped out the cruise ship industry: Hundreds
of people stricken with Legionnaires' disease, a potentially deadly pneumonia
traced to a heated spa whirlpool bath located aboard a luxury cruise ship.
Spas: Are They Safe? continued...
Since
that time, medical literature has been teeming with studies on similar
situations, all indicating that communal pools, saunas, and other water-related
spa treatments hold not only the potential to transmit this germ, but a host of
equally threatening organisms.
"In
many spa treatments that involve water, including hot whirlpool baths, very
seldom do they change the water. They toss in some chlorine to keep bacteria
counts down, but in no way does this eradicate organisms completely," says
Philip Tierno Jr., PhD, director of microbiology at NYU Medical Center and
author of The Secret Life of Germs.
And while
he says some germs will succumb to chlorine, others, like those with a
"biofilm" (a kind of molecular adhesive that binds several organisms
together including those which cause Legionnaires' disease), it won't do a
thing.
"You
would need 1,500 times the amount normally used to kill it -- you would kill
people before you would kill the organism," says Tierno.
And that,
he says, means many spas can put you at risk. "It's not just heated pools
and warm baths that are problem -- and it's not just Legionnaires' disease
about which you should be concerned," he says. Other bacteria can also
thrive in these conditions.
"These
organisms love hot, wet environments -- spas are heated and steamy, and when
you inhale vaporized water in this atmosphere you are potentially inhaling
whatever organisms are present," he says.
Dermatologist
Ellen Marmur, MD, says she's most concerned about risks to spa users seeking
relief for skin problems, such as dermatitis or psoriasis. She says any break
in the skin can increase the risk of germ transmission from surface areas like
tables, baths, and even hot rocks or other items placed on the surface of the
body during treatment.
"Even
a bad sunburn can leave the skin compromised so that picking up an organism is
easier," says Marmur. Moreover, she reminds us that some spa treatments
such as full body exfoliation might actually increase risks further by creating
microscopic tears in the skin that act as an invitation for germs to enter the
body.
Spas: Are They Safe? continued...
"When
spa attendants don't wear gloves -- and most of them don't -- the risk of
disease transmission is even greater," says Marmur.
Tierno
says other risky spa treatments include manicures and pedicures, particularly
if the cuticles are cut and especially if the instruments are not properly
cleaned. Indeed, in the recent past an outbreak of a nasty bacterial infection
causing skin boils was traced to unsanitary conditions in a manicure-pedicure
salon.
"I
always suggest bringing your own instruments. It's much safer than being
treated with anything they supply," he says.
Spas: Can They Deliver Their Promises?
Among the
biggest spa draws are the exotic treatment offerings -- and the equally exotic
promises. From body rubs that attack cellulite, to lymphatic massages that
promise to cleanse your body of toxins, to mud baths and anti-aging seaweed
wraps guaranteed to soothe your skin and your psyche, the promises can go from
the simple to the outrageous.
Assuming
the spas take steps to prevent germ transmission, do any of the treatments
themselves have risks? And do they even work? Experts say some do, and some clearly
do not.
"As
a dermatologist and a spa owner, I think that there is a place for some of the
more exotic spa treatments. But does that mean that a caviar wrap from head to
toe is going to transform you? No, just your wallet," says Ken Beer, MD,
director of Palm Beach Aesthetics in Palm Beach, Fla.
Likewise,
he says treatments that promise to banish cellulite offer, at best, a temporary
change in skin texture and nothing more.
Marmur
agrees. "What can happen is that the treatment causes swelling so the little
spaces in between the dimples fill in. But the result is only temporary,"
she says.
A full
body seaweed wrap may be another treatment to be cautious about.
Beer says
seaweed wraps - with their high iodine content -- can be helpful to some folks
and harmful to others. "Whatever you are applying to your skin can get
into your bloodstream. ... If [iodine found in seaweed] is applied in high
concentrations [it] may result in a nasty breakout on the skin, and other
minerals can work the same way," he says.
Spas: Can They Deliver Their Promises?
continued...
Moreover,
Sadock warns that some folks can get extremely claustrophobic in a full body
wrap of any kind - and end up with an experience that is anything but stress
reducing.
"Some
people like the feeling of being cocooned or swaddled, and others feel like
they have to get out - if you think you might feel that way, ask if the spa
will leave your arms out of the wrap, which lessens the anxiety," she
says.
Moreover,
if you are the anxious type, Sadock suggests doing a walk-through or even
observe treatments before you sign on for one.
"The
one thing you don't want is for a treatment to increase your stress," she
says.
Spa Treatments: What Works
While
some spa treatments may do little, experts say others can do a lot. Among the
ones frequently recommended by some doctors is the lymphatic draining massage.
"Lymphatic
draining does help, particularly in areas that have been affected by surgery.
Many of my patients that have had lymph nodes removed develop swelling that can
be improved with lymphatic draining, which returns fluids back into
circulation," says Beer.
Lymphatic
draining massage should not be done if certain conditions are present or
suspected, including active infection or inflammation, cancer, blood clots, and
congestive heart failure.
Another
helpful treatment: Mudpacks and mineral water mud baths, which Marmur says have
anti-inflammatory activity that can remedy some skin problems including
psoriasis.
In one
small Italian study, doctors found that mineral water mud baths yielded a
significant reduction in symptoms caused by psoriasis. A second study found mud
baths offered promising relief for those suffering with osteoarthritis.
"The
only thing to look out for is that psoriasis can flare from any trauma to the
skin - so if the massage is rough, or the mud not well refined, it could
actually make problems worse," she says.
But while
it may be a specific spa promise that draws you in, experts say that for many
folks the real value still lies not in the treatment itself, but in the
pampering feeling that is universal to the spa experience.
Says
Sadock: "The treatment is less important than the whole concept of being
coddled - that's really what going to a spa is all about."
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