What is a socio-esthetician?
A socio-beautician accompanies people who are put in difficulty at some point in their existence by an accident in life such as illness, disability, addiction, precariousness, isolation… where she does not use aesthetic care either as an end but as a tool in the revalorization of self-image.
Sometimes hospitalized or accommodated in medical, social or medico-social structures in order to be treated there, these people undergo heavy treatments having consequences on their physical appearance and/or their mental which generate a degradation of their image, the loss of the ‘self esteem. The socio-esthetician helps her people maintain their identity and regain self-esteem.
Socio-aesthetic care bring a gentle break, comfort, relaxation. They reassure, restore the desire to take care of yourself, help to reclaim your body, reduce certain pains and improve morale. A physical improvement helps the psyche and therefore reduces both moral and physical pain.
What are you doing for the well-being of sick children?
I support them in the pediatric oncology department, in individual sessions, performing socio-aesthetic treatments such as facial care, hand care, foot care, corrective make-up (how to redraw an eyebrow line, camouflage a scar, find a “healthy glow” effect…), relaxing body massages.
I give them my advice so that they can take care, on a daily basis, of their skin, their nails, their image throughout their treatments. I show them techniques for knotting scarves or turbans, give them my advice (colorimetry, clothes, silhouettes) to help them regain a positive self-image.
Why is socio-aesthetic care important for children with cancer ?
Cancer weakens the body and the mind, children and adolescents undergo heavy treatments. For example, chemotherapy causes side effects such as hair loss, eyelashes and eyebrows, severe skin dryness, fatigue, bone pain … The image of oneself, of one’s body is altered. The child or the teenager is in search of his identity which is disturbed by the disease. The gaze of others is all the more difficult in a sick child or adolescent who needs to feel normal, in his own eyes and in the gaze of others. I help them restore their body image for well-being.
Can wellness help them overcome illness?
Yes well-being is important in the fight against disease. It helps to better accept the course of medical care, treatments… It is also a lever to improve the quality of life and sometimes reduces certain side effects by promoting the healing process.
For this international day of “well-being”, what is your message?
I will end with a quote from Bernard Fontenelle that I really like! ” The biggest secret to happiness is to feel good about yourself ».
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