Prep - Before Your Scan
To ensure your images are as accurate as possible, it is important to follow the below preparation steps.
These clinical protocols ensure reliability at every appointment and are advised to prevent overheating of the body and to limit increased blood flow and circulation to areas of concern prior to your scan to obtain the most accurate information.
Preparation
5 Days before:
Refrain from prolonged sun exposure (sunbathing or sun tanning) as well as any tanning booth activity. Thermography should be postponed if there is evidence of sunburn damage (erythema, blistering, and peeling) over the area to be imaged.
48 hours before:
Abstain from heavy drinking or excessive alcohol consumption. Being under the influence of alcohol, or having a hangover, increases skin temperature and alters the thermal pattern. Also, women undergoing breast thermography should avoid getting a mammogram as the mammography procedure may result in significant residual inflammation of the compressed breast tissue. If mammography is planned around the time of infrared imaging, it should be performed after the thermography session.
24 hours before:
(Beginning the Midnight before Imaging).
Keep skin stimulation to a minimum. It is generally best to avoid any skin circulatory-related interventions such as massage, chiropractic treatments, physical therapy, nerve stimulation (TENS), electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), acupuncture, therapeutic ultrasound, and either hot or cold applications, especially if these procedures involve the area to be imaged. Also, abstain from strenuous physical activity, which may cause residual inflammation or skin circulation changes.
Day of imaging:
Refrain from wearing heavy jewelry and tight-fitting clothing. Loose-fitting clothing is preferable because it facilitates normal, unrestricted blood circulation. Imaging might have to be delayed until skin impressions or irritations from tight-fitting clothing have subsided. Women undergoing breast thermography should not wear an underwire bra on the day of the scan. It’s ideal when possible no bra be worn for several hours before the exam. To minimize irritation of the skin, both men and women should not shave the area to be imaged. Refrain from applying lotions, creams, antiperspirants, deodorants, liniments, powders, cosmetics, or perfumes to all areas of skin to be examined, as they may lower the skin emissivity or stimulate local blood flow.
Four hours before imaging:
Before Imaging. Avoid getting overheated or engaging in vigorous physical exercise (e.g., running, cycling, or other workouts). Refrain from ingesting any alcohol, caffeine, and pungent spices such as cayenne or ginger. Do not smoke tobacco or use any nicotine-delivery products such as “vaping,” snuff, gum, or patches. If possible, do not take prescription blood pressure medications or vasodilators (especially nitrates) before the exam. Amphetamines and cocaine may reduce skin circulation and temperature. Avoid taking any non-prescription medicines, especially cold remedies (oral pseudoephedrine, nasal decongestants), aspirin, ibuprofen, other anti-inflammatories, and niacin.
Two hours before imaging:
Do not bathe/shower just before your appointment as this may stimulate the skin. Vigorous exercise should be avoided due to its effects on blood circulation, core temperature, and skin temperature patterns. Strong sunlight should be avoided. Do not take a bath or shower or use a hairdryer before the imaging session.
One hour before imaging:
Avoid eating or drinking anything. If essential, it should be bland and at room temperature or lukewarm, i.e., nothing spicy, icy, or hot. Lactating mothers: postpone breastfeeding or expressing (pumping) breast milk until after the exam.
30 Minutes before imaging:
Allow enough time before your appointment to arrive around 15 minutes early so you aren't rushed or stressed. If you aren't familiar with where our Floreat location is, please allow extra time for traffic.
Within 15 minutes of Imaging:
Please use the toilet facilities to avoid having to “go” during the 15-minute temperature acclimatization time.
Nothing to eat or drink. No gum chewing. Refrain from any mobile phone use. Ideally, turn your phone off or keep it out of the exam room. Earphones and earbuds should not be used until after the exam as they affect the thermal appearance of the ear and ear canal.
