The Importance of Skin-To-Skin Contact

Humans love to be touched. It’s an undeniable fact, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a full-on squishy bear hug or a massage. Sure, touch is one of the most important things you can give your body. And we can talk more about the importance of skin-to-skin contact.

Skin-to-skin contact from a hug, massage, or even a session in the bedroom can be a potent way to support your health, from lowering your blood pressure and heart rate to boosting your immune system and giving you pain relief. As we all know, it also helps us to feel less stressed and anxious.

Babies and skin-to-skin contact

From a very early age, babies crave being held and touched. Studies have shown that our immune systems can suffer without skin-to-skin contact as a baby. Babies who haven’t experienced enough cuddles, touch, and general affection can often be susceptible to illnesses. It’s thought that lack of being nurtured leaves babies feeling stressed and vulnerable. The high levels of stress hormones can harm their developing immune system.

Adults need to be touched too…

It’s a sad fact of life that some of us can go many days without direct skin-to-skin contact. This is a fact, even if we are in a relationship. We can sometimes be too busy or work odd hours and neglect this basic need.

Anyone with regular massages can attest that a massage can calm down stress and antsiness. Sometimes a massage is all you need. And the relaxation effect is a physical reaction to the contact you get from your massage therapist.

Being massaged makes your muscles unclench if you’re all scrunched up. If your blood pressure is high, it can drop after a massage, and cortisol levels (a stress hormone) will drop. Because you feel lovely and relaxed, your body has the breathing space to start recharging your batteries so that you’ll feel much better afterward.

Recent research backs this up; the immune function of healthy adults who got either a 45-minute Swedish massage or 45 minutes of lighter touch was measured, and the group who enjoyed a massage was found to have significantly higher numbers of white blood cells – including the cells which help the body fight viruses.

So can a massage stop you from catching a cold? The scientists stopped short of saying so, but it does seem that regular skin-to-skin contact through massage could play a part in keeping your immune system healthy and fighting off bugs.

So, the evidence is mounting that a massage helps you feel good, improves your well-being, and boosts your immune system. You can also try to incorporate essential oils in your massage. It provides a warm, relaxing relief that feels amazing! Why not call us or book a massage session today?

Brilliant Massage & Skin

Burlington, Vermont