I want to pay someone to rub dead skin off my back

October 6, 2022 11:49 AM

I have psoriasis and get fairly extensive callous build-ups on my arms, legs and back. It's just dead skin, no open wounds or anything. I have to exfoliate once a week, and I prefer a cream that sluffs the dead skin off over a scrub. The cream works great on my arms and legs. I rub it on, and a few minutes later, I rub my skin and the callous build ups sluff off. The problem is that I can't rub my own back -- when I had a partner, they would rub my back for me, but I'm single now. I don't want to ask a friend to do this, it feels too intimate. I'd like to pay someone to do it, but who? It's just like peeling a sunburn, but even easier.
posted by OrangeDisk to Health & Fitness (15 answers total)

I think the term for the professional you want is "esthetician", I'd google for places that do that near you and call them up and ask.
posted by foxfirefey at 11:52 AM on October 6, 2022 [6 favorites]

Oh--I think another possibility might be to go on a place like care.com and look for senior assistance. No, you're not a senior, but people that do various medical assisted daily living activities for seniors would probably also be able to do this task, too.
posted by foxfirefey at 11:58 AM on October 6, 2022 [7 favorites]

Random item on amazon, but I've seen others (for example, acne.org used to sell a version) - you apply the cream to the towel and you pull back and forth on the two ends to scrub one's back.

For both applying a cream/ lotion/ gel and also for exfoliation/ sloughing dead skin.
posted by porpoise at 12:02 PM on October 6, 2022 [2 favorites]

Is there a Korean spa nearby?
posted by bleep at 12:32 PM on October 6, 2022 [7 favorites]

If you want to explore options to do this for yourself - search for ‘how to apply self tanner to your back’ on YouTube. Removal would seem less problematic - I’d just us a towel in the motion I use to dry my back after a shower.
posted by koahiatamadl at 12:57 PM on October 6, 2022 [2 favorites]

These Salux towels are pretty exfoliating and long enough to reach your own back.
posted by mercredi at 1:41 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

You can get a long thin scrubby towel and DIY. Example
posted by St. Peepsburg at 1:46 PM on October 6, 2022

Response by poster: I can't use any scratchy, scrubby type applicators or removers -- I need to use a chemical cream, which is why it's necessary to rub it off. All the solutions that involve anything textured creates more damage (although I do love a Korean Spa). (edited to clarify the last bit)
posted by OrangeDisk at 2:00 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

Maybe an independent massage therapist who will come to your house?
posted by bleep at 2:02 PM on October 6, 2022

I have something similar to this and it works really well. It's just a foam roller with a long handle
posted by Nickel at 2:04 PM on October 6, 2022

Can you have this done at a dermatology office and maybe covered by insurance?
posted by happy_cat at 2:37 PM on October 6, 2022 [3 favorites]

I would call a small (solo/independent) body worker who offers a few different massage or skin services and just ask them if they are interested. You'd get even more positive response if you were willing see it as an add-on to whatever else they normally offer that you may want, if it's in budget.
posted by SaltySalticid at 3:22 PM on October 6, 2022 [2 favorites]

If you can't have this done at a dermatologist's, you could at least get advice there.

I'm sure that you're not the only person with a variation of this problem, and they probably have developed stock answers.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 3:32 PM on October 6, 2022 [2 favorites]

Came here to link to the same type device that Nickel did - but would also dearly love to know what magic cream this is you speak of???

Have also had good luck with Salux-type towels.
posted by invincible summer at 6:42 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

I can't use any scratchy, scrubby

I had one of the acne.org ones, and they weren't scratchy at all and it held acne lotion/ gel stuff about as well as fingers.
posted by porpoise at 7:01 PM on October 6, 2022