Eczema and psoriasis are some of the most challenging skin conditions encountered by skin care professionals. Often, there will simply be a little red rash on the skin and you may be left scratching your own head trying to figure out how it came to be. Up to 20% of the world’s children suffer from eczema and up to 3% of adults suffer from either eczema or psoriasis. Given that he world population just reached the seven billion mark, that’s a lot of people.
This month at Alya Salon & Spa, we will be participating in Vienna’s 73rd annual Halloween Parade! This will take place all along Maple
Avenue on Wednesday, October 23rd at 7:00 PM. The theme for this year’s parade is Famous Children’s Books and Fairy-tales Brought to
Life! We will be riding along on our own float, with our very own Rapunzel and her long flowing hair, accompanied by her colorful team
of fairies! So come and see the magic!
When patients suffer from carpal tunnel pain, gua sha may be an effective treatment method. Many patients will come back to their massage therapist explaining how great their arms feel. Gua sha works on repetitive stress pain. It is the practice of using a tool to apply pressure to the skin and scrape the skin to relieve pain and tension. This action can cause temporary light bruising, which often appears as purple or red spots known as petechiae or sha.
The name gua sha – pronounced gwahshah – comes from the Chinese word for scraping. It may also be called skin scraping, spooning, or coining.
Repetitive movements that put stress on the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the arms cause carpal tunnel pain and similar kinds of forearm pain. Patients usually come up with a self-diagnosis or label for their pain. The most important fact is that the person has pain, and the location of it, so they can be treated with gua sha.
If pain is on the outside of the forearm, gua sha is practiced across the top of the shoulder and down the deltoids and outer upper arm. Then it is worked from the outer crook of the elbow down over the top of the arm to the wrist.
If pain is on the inside of the forearm, gua sha is practiced from the pectoral muscles, down to the inside of the elbow, and down over the inside of the arm (over the area that is traditionally associated with carpal tunnel syndrome).
Sometimes people have arm pain behind their elbow down to their pinky finger. In that case, you would start gua sha on the back of the shoulder blade, down the triceps on the back of the arm, down the bony part underneath the forearm, to the wrist.
No one needs to suffer from carpal tunnel pain and similar arm/wrist pain symptoms. People often toss those words out with great concern, as if there is no hope. “I think I might be getting carpal tunnel.”
“My husband thinks it’s carpal tunnel, and I might need surgery.” “I know it’s carpal tunnel in my wrists, I’m going to have to quit my job.”
Gua sha generally takes only a few sessions over the course of a month to get relief. After that, monthly maintenance usually keeps arms feeling great.
Alya Salon & Spa
Reagan Mackenzie Yosifov is an Arlington native with over 10-years experience in the industry. Before joining the skilled team at Alya Salon & Spa, she spent many years owning her own salon and working for some of the most top-rated salons in the region.
Reagan is a dedicated stylist and enjoys creating entire looks, from full cut and color make-overs to styling for special occasions. She is a certified stylist for Hot Heads Extensions and specializes in tape-in, as well as hand-tied & machine Weft techniques. Reagan’s skill as a hair-cutter, stylist, colorist, along with her experience ranging over 10 years proves she can offer knowledge of every type of hair service.
Her two sons, Porter and Logan, are her favorite (and most fussy!) customers.
Before becoming a stylist, Reagan was a ballet dancer who studied business in college. She has a practiced eye that finds grace and beauty in all things. She loves spending time with her family, playing around with new colors and styles in her hair, and everything about Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera.
Mayra does it all – from hair to skincare to makeup! With over 10-years experience in the beauty industry, she stays passionate and knowledgeable with all current trends to make sure you walk out of our doors looking and feeling your best.
She became a Licensed Cosmetologist during her senior year in high school and has had a love of hair ever since. She’s attended many advanced classes in NYC, Las Vegas, and California for color and techniques with world-renowned stylists. With a specialty in Brazilian Blow-out, color, and different balayage techniques – French Balayage, Ombre, Sombre, Color Melt – Mayra is able to transform her clients hair into the achievable hair of their dreams. After achieving multi-level success in haircare, Mayra went on to become a Licensed Esthetician. She is precise and skillful with her full-body waxing services, as well as providing clients with lash-lifts and facials.
Mayra has also worked for top-selling cosmetic brands such as MAC, Benefit, and Temptu. She’s received multiple certifications in Makeup Artistry and also trained alongside key makeup artists for New York fashion week. She is now a well-known bridal and special makeup artist.
Whether you are looking for an updated hairstyle or tips on skincare, Mayra is there to help guide you in the right direction!
