President Obama (and cutie Ashton Kutcher!) have given us a mission: They want everyone to do something to give back and improve society. While you may think that your monthly spa visit leans more toward being a selfish indulgence instead of selfless act, I say not! Being pampered can make a positive difference, and savvy salons and spas are working to help clients and their communities.

Chic case in point is Cincinnati-based Spa4Diabetes whose reach isn't just local but global. Started by Cincinnati spa expert Candace Silvasy (yours truly) whose parents both have type 2 diabetes, Spa4Diabetes aims to:

• Rile up folks about the impact of diabetes and keep it on everyone's mind.
• Reduce the number of new cases of diabetes by encouraging a healthy spa lifestyle and regular diabetes testing.
• Rally the beauty and spa industry to promote and produce diabetes-friendly treatments and products.

Named a global partner with the United Nations' International Diabetes Federation, Spa4Diabetes' banner initiative BlueBeauty has raised awareness on three continents. Yep, from my humble Queen City abode, I enthused more than 50 spas from Thailand to Colorado to offer and promote blue (diabetes' signature color) spa treatments. Local spas even got in on the act, with Tanya's Image and Wellness Salon in Hyde Park hosting a Diabetes Awareness Day on Nov. 14, World Diabetes Day.

And we even have science on our side to prove that spa and social activism are sisters. The University of North Carolina conducted the Salon Study to monitor health education in a spa setting. They concluded that because women befriend and trust their hair stylists, facialists and therapists, they will pay attention and heed what these valued confidants have to say about life and social issues.

Couple the financial power of the beauty and spa industries with this evidence, and you have a double whammy recipe to improve the health of millions of women (and men - we don't want to be sexist here!). And because spa treatments can offer diabetics a bit of indulgence while controlling their disease, it's a perfect match.

For instance, did you know that:

• A massage can lower blood sugar levels 8 to 20 percent?
• Diabetics can have pedicures as long as the water is only lukewarm and no razors are used?
• De-stressing treats like acupressure, reflexology and facials boost diabetics' immune system and resistance to complications?

How can you spa in Cincy to help stop diabetes? On April 7, 2009, C.O. Bigelow at Kenwood Towne Center is hosting "Spa Around the World - A Virtual Spa Journey" to benefit Spa4Diabetes and the American Diabetes Association. For more details, visit the Web site or call Silvasy at (513) 543-0993 or e-mail her.

Looking good to do good, now that's truly beautiful.

PHOTO CREDITS
First Photo
Courtesy of Candace Silvasy

Second Photo
Photographer: Neysa Ruhl Photography
Model: Candace Silvasy
Makeup Artistry: Trina Paul
Hair Styling: Kathleen McGuirk, freelance stylist, kathleen@mcguirk.org
Location: The McAlpin

Candace Silvasy
		About the author:
		Candace Silvasy is Cincy Chic’s "Spa Chick." A spa PR consultant, author of Art of the Spa and creator of Spa Around the World, she is one mod Spa-shionista.
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Last update: 17-02-2009 13:14

Published in : Magazine Items, Beauty