Summer is here, and with more time spent in the sun, sunburns are bound to happen. Receiving massage therapy is not recommended if you have a fresh or peeling sunburn. Our massage therapists at Motion Works Physiotherapy Stittsville emphasize the importance of avoiding massage therapy on sunburned skin.
Why not massage over a sunburn?
If you have a massage therapy appointment coming up, it's best to postpone it until your skin is completely healed. Getting massage therapy on a fresh or peeling sunburn can cause even more damage to the skin.
What are the risks?
- There is an increased risk of infection. The skin is vulnerable as it heals, and friction from a massage or rubbing the sunburned skin can break the newly developed tissue.
- Additional damage to regenerating cells will result in a longer healing time.
How will I know if my skin is ready for a massage?
You’ll know when your sunburned skin is ready for massage therapy when:
- Redness and pain have subsided and the skin is no longer warm/hot to the touch.
- Any blisters have healed.
- Peeling has stopped.
- Skin is no longer sensitive to the sun.
Take precautions in the sun!
At our clinic, we understand that massage therapy is an important part of many individual’s mental and physical health routines. We caution you to take care in the sun so that you can book your regular massage appointments! This can include wearing sunscreen, hats, long but light clothing, sunglasses, and monitoring the UV index before going outside.
Did you know?
Even when it's cloudy outside, almost 80% of UV rays can still reach our skin. For outdoor activities, dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.*
*“Sunscreen.” The Skin Cancer Foundation, 20 June 2025, www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/.
