GENTLE TOUCH SKIN CARE Making clients AT HOME

By CATHY SECKMAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
SALEM -- First there was Tupperware, then there was the home party. Friends gathered in the hostess's living room for games, refreshments and a sales pitch. In the last 50 years, women have bought not only plastic containers, but cosmetics, cookware and lacy lingerie at home parties.
Welcome to the '00s. Skin care is the newest option in home selling. The health care team at Family Health Care Inc. of Columbiana County has branched out from general medicine to include Gentle Touch Skin Care, a program that offers permanent hair removal, skin rejuvenation, facials, self-tanning and skin care products. They market these services through home parties.
"We were looking for ways to expand the practice," says Dr. Lori Crowl. "We wanted to help our patients look better and feel better about themselves. With the other medicine we do, we deal with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol -- problems we can only manage, not fix. With skin care, we can see a positive difference. People are pleased with the outcome."
Health aspects
Dr. Maria Ryhal adds: "It's an interesting integration between medicine and aesthetics. They complement each other. It's been a change of pace for us, and that's part of the reason why we all enjoy it so much. For the patients, it's easier for them to see their appearance improving than their cholesterol count."
The amazing thing, says nurse practitioner Mary Lou Ferranto, is that skin care can be a springboard for other improvements. "Patients who have done it feel better about themselves. All of a sudden they're losing weight, they're exercising, they're getting better jobs. Skin care really does a lot for health promotion and illness prevention, and that's what we're all about. It's feel-good medicine."
After researching the field, the staff bought an Aurora machine from Syneron, which uses electrical energy and light to stimulate collagen, and to remove hair, vascular lesions and pigmentation from skin.
"It won't take 50 years off your face," Ferranto says, "but it'll take 10. The pulse restores elasticity. There's a permanent reduction in wrinkles, scars and age spots."
During training on the new machine, they also came up with a unique marketing plan.
'Nice night out'
"We found some volunteers," says Dr. Karl Getzinger, the third physician on the team, "and had a little party here at the office. That was so much fun, it gave us an idea. Home parties seemed like a way to give people a hands-on experience. Skin rejuvenation almost requires demonstration so people can see what's going on."
"We've done six or seven parties," Ryhal says. "It's a nice night out in a nonthreatening atmosphere."
At the parties, Gentle Touch Skin Care provides catering, awards a gift certificate for a facial, and gives out samples and coupons. Guests are able to see the Aurora machine at work, gauge its results firsthand, and ask as many questions as they like.
Andrea Adkins of East Liverpool, who won a free facial at the party she attended, was interested in skin rejuvenation.
"They were pretty specific in saying what the machine would and wouldn't do. When Dr. Ryhal used it on a volunteer, it didn't look painful. I'd have to consider the cost, but I'd really like to try it."
Lisa Chronister of East Liverpool attended a party in Salem, then decided to host one because she knew her friends would love to learn about it. "I was reluctant at first, because I'm not one of those home party people, but this was so much fun. About 30 people came, and the doctors brought wine and hors d'oeuvres. It was a learning experience for all of us."
Taking the treatment
Cris Swetye of Salem did more than consider rejuvenation, she's halfway through the process. It normally requires five sessions, three weeks apart, with the Aurora machine, plus use of special creams and lotions.
"Wherever my skin is bruised or broken," says Swetye, "it darkens. I had a black spot on my lip from a burn. I had pitted scars from teenage acne, plus dark blotches from aging."
That was before. Today the black scar is gone, the age spots have vanished, and the deep acne pits are a memory.
"If I'd just had a few wrinkles," she admits, "I probably wouldn't have bothered. But your face is the most visible part of your body. I could spend hundreds of dollars a year covering scars and brown spots, but they're only going to get worse. I don't mind paying for skin rejuvenation instead. I love it so far. It's like a mini-face-lift."
XThose interested in hosting a skin-care party or getting more information can call Gentle Touch Skin Care at (330) 337-5500. Appointments can also be scheduled at Visage Spa and Salon in Poland.