Here are two poignant stories, showing the importance of a little-known profession: onco-esthetician. The goal? Bring well-being and dignity to sick people through care.
The disease upsets a life. It affects body, mind, and even physical appearance. But how can we find the desire to take care of yourself when each reflection in the mirror becomes a test? Alexandra, psycho-socio-esthetician, consecrates her life to help patients rediscover the beauty that still resides in them.
“That’s it, I’m ready. My parents can happen.”
I accompanied a patient throughout her care career, until all the solutions have been exhausted. Her parents were to come from Algeria, to see her last time. While waiting for their arrival, I helped her take care of her. She did not want her parents to see her weight loss, the pallor of her complexion, and the design of her skin which made her even more vulnerable.
My goal was that she could feel comfortable with the image she sent back. So we used the Toleriane tinged with La Roche-Posay to rekindle its skin, which has become almost translucent. Immediately after the application, she told me that she felt soothed. I remember her gaze: she smiled at me and told me, gratitude: “Alexandra, can we continue like this?”.
I added a little blush to enhance her hollow cheekbones, applied from the mascara to illuminate her gaze, and chose scarves that flattered his morphology. The result was dazzling. Not only did his face seemed brighter, but there was also a kind of interior illumination. With great emotion, she told me: “That’s it, I’m ready. My parents can happen.” She was more serene, ready to receive them.
“I feel like it was contagious, as if I couldn’t meet anyone anymore.”
A doctor called me: “Alexandra, one of my patients wants to stop her treatments. He has an acneiform rash (pushing of pimples, editor’s note.) Who completely destabilizes him”. This rash was embarrassing, to the point that he no longer wanted to leave his home. “When people look at me, I feel like I was contagious. I don’t want to meet anyone anymore.” This man loved playing pétanque with his friends, but he deprived of it. However, the treatment was effective.
I received it in my office. He had not yet tried anything to improve the aspect. So I offered him a spray of thermal water to soothe his skin, and a Cicaplast B5 repair cream to hydrate it. Then I asked him: “Do you allow me to try something about you?”. I applied the foundation on his skin. He went to look in the mirror and remained amazed when he saw his reflection. Her skin was smoother and flexible. He no longer recognized himself. “It’s incredible,” he said. He was able to resume the course of his life and continue his treatments.
Thanks to Alexandra and the other onco-aestheticians, the patients manage to rediscover a part of themselves. Everyone deserves to feel good in their body, whatever the fight they lead.
