My journey to La Roche-Posay: Day 2

 

I am woken by a bell announcing breakfast and then greeted by a delicious selection of fresh fruit, pastries and more. Here I learn that my skin will become more hydrated if I eat water-based fruit rather than drinking lots and lots of water. After some morning fuel we hit the road for the Société Thermale La Roche-Posay Centre.

 

We start our tour with a very interesting presentation from the team at the the Société Thermale La Roche-Posay Centre. Here we learn all about how the thermal spring water and the properties it contains. La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water has a unique combination of minerals and trace elements such as Selenium which is a natural element that soothes. At the end of the 14th century the Thermal Spring Water was discovered in this medieval village to have healing properties. This discovery was then formally researched in the 1600's and again in the 1800's culminating in the opening of the first Thermal Centre in 1905. However it wasn't until 1928 that the La Roche-Posay dermatological products were produced with the main ingredient being Thermal Spring Water.

Endorsed by the French Government, nationals can visit the Thermal Centre to experience "the cure" for dry and irritated skin conditions where they will receive treatment over a 3-week period paid for by their social security system. The testimonials by the children and adults who have received this treatment were incredible. Not only were the healing elements of the thermal spring water physically life-changing, but the positive emotional effects were almost just as important. Children met other children with similar conditions so they no longer felt alone in their struggle, while adults with skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, burn victims and cutaneous post-cancer sufferers all made peace with their ailments. It is easy to see why over 50% of thermal dermatological treatments are carried out here. The Société Thermale La Roche-Posay Centre is a must for dermatologic thermal treatments in France and Europe and sees almost 8,000 patients a year, 30% of which are children.

 

We then had a tour of the Thermal Centre where the stages of treatment using the thermal spring water were demonstrated. Everything from jet sprays, fine mists and hydrating baths were used and not forgetting a prescription to drink the water also. An ointment workshop for children followed the Thermal Centre where we met Tomas (4 years old) and his dad. An educator from the Société Thermale La Roche-Posay Centre then showed us before and after pictures of Tomas’s dry and inflamed skin condition. This was his second year to visit the Thermal Centre and his condition improved beyond all recognition. The educator then showed us the "Lipi & Kara" way for Tomas to apply his own creams. She used animal references for each stage of the process making it fun for Tomas and to help him remember his daily routine. The creams were applied to follow the circulatory system, bringing the cream towards the heart in upward strokes. She explained the importance of Tomas having ownership of his body and managing his condition.

 

Just as the shops were beginning to open following siesta/lunch in the village of La Roche Posay (a beautiful medieval town flanked by protective walls and with a real dungeon too!), we headed for our final La Roche-Posay Spa experience. Here we indulged in a prescription of their signature anti-aging facial and an underwater body massage...I was in heaven! We then got to relax in the main Spa area where we had access to a sauna, hamman, jacuzzi, and swimming pool.

Wine-tasting and a delicious dinner finished off my wonderful day back in Chateau de Touffou.