Jessica Harrison, an aesthetician at Amore Skin Care in Portland, is one of the first practicing oncology aestheticians in the state. She offers a wide range of services such as waxing, facials and chemical peels. She recently began offering services for individuals undergoing cancer treatment.
Oncology aesthetics use gentle products, free of preservatives, perfumes and other harmful ingredients. The techniques she uses are designed with a cancer patient’s unique skin-care needs.
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Q: How long have you worked as an aesthetician?
A: Five years.
Q: What services do you provide your clients?
A: I provide all waxing services, facials, chemical peels, body treatments and make-up.
Q: What services would you offer a person who is receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment?
A: I do facials, body treatments and make-up. I don’t do waxing or chemical peels while a person is undergoing treatment.
Q: What is your approach or philosophy about skin care?
A: I really focus on the clinical aspect of skin care. I believe in incorporating results-oriented skin care with relaxation. There’s lots of massage involved in my facials. I really focus on using products that are clean and really effective and have all the best ingredients.
Q: Do you use specialized products for oncology patients?
A: I use specific skin care lines that are formulated for cancer patients and people with health-challenged skin. I use very clean ingredients that have no preservatives, fragrances or other potentially harmful ingredients.
The facials I do for oncology patients are very specific to each individual’s type of cancer. I need to know what type of drugs they are taking or if they’ve had lymph nodes removed. All of those factors come into play with what I can do.
Q: Why did you decide to expand your practice to work with cancer patients?
A: A friend of mine did the Tri for a Cure triathlon. I went to cheer her on and saw the survivors speak. I was just really moved. I really wanted to be a support system for the cancer community. I then went to the breast cancer luncheon that is held every year in Portland. It’s such a tough thing to go through. I felt that if I could help in some small way, I really wanted to do that. That’s why I went through the training.
Q: How would a day at the spa help an oncology patient?
A: Chemo and radiation are just so tough on the skin. There are things I can to do help. I use special products, special massage techniques and incorporate reflexology. Energy therapies like Reiki can really provide a great treatment and a healing touch, a comforting touch. When people are in sterile hospital environments, it’s nice to be able to come to a spa and get pampered and feel safe.
Q: How long did it take you to earn your certification?
A: It was a five-day intensive class. It was taught by aestheticians, who have trained in this method and oncology nurses from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
We also worked with cancer survivors at the class.
Continuing education has always been a part of what I love about this. I love the science of skin care. I love to learn about all the ingredients and every part of the technology used in skin care.
Q: How do your oncology clients feel after a spa treatment?
A: I’ve gotten a lot of really great feedback. I hear from a lot of people that they are afraid of spa treatments. They are afraid of being judged, afraid of taking their wig off or a prosthetic. Coming to me knowing that I have an in-depth knowledge of cancer and knowing what I can and cannot do, creates a safe place and makes them feel comfortable.
Q: What do you love about your work?
A: I love helping people. I love making people feel good. What I do could be considered superficial, but it really isn’t.
Touching people and making people feel good about themselves inside and out.
The stress and everything that people experience in life … I can provide a little relief for. That’s what love about my job.
Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at: mcreamer@pressherald.com
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