Symbioses of traditional naturopathy, modern medical findings and innovative beauty treatments are booming as good old preventive care has arrived in the age of apps.

Health and beauty 2.0

Preventive care has never been easier. Traditional medicine is changing radically thanks to new, easy-to-use devices: apps count our steps and log heart rates as well as blood oxygen levels. There are smart mirrors that act as personal assistants; they measure our temperatures daily, analyze the skin, tell women when they're ovulating, and act as guides for facial yoga. If you want, your bathroom mirror can also remind you to take breaks and go to bed on time. Another innovation that's still a dream of the future could soon be part of our everyday lives: toilets that can read health stats from urine are already being tested.

More than ever, we are dedicated to our health (and beauty) with the use of the latest technology. © Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc

But classic healthcare devices are also becoming smaller and more stylish. The "BioIntelliSense" sticker, co-developed by Philips, is designed to be applied like a band-aid and collects body data that's sent directly to primary care physicians. Biostickers were actually developed for high-risk patients, but could soon be used for preventive medicine: Even before you can feel any symptoms, they can detect diseases. Dermatology apps, on the other hand, have long made it possible to benefit from remote skin diagnoses and detect signs of skin cancer at an early stage.

With a unique mountain view, the NEWYOU Method is practiced at the luxury hotel Grand Resort Bad Ragaz. © Grand Resort Bad Ragaz

Health resorts: luxury and well-being

Of course, apps can't completely replace doctors, but they are a useful addition. Right now, it's all about prevention and regeneration. What's new is that vital medicine is now increasingly building bridges to traditional naturopathy and innovative beauty treatments. What used to be separate is now coming together under one roof as a matter of course: people relax, do sports and yoga, have their annual check-ups, use various anti-aging therapies, book emotional coaching or seek psychological counseling. At the same time, modern medical treatments for skin improvement, dental aesthetics or cellulite reduction are on the rise.

AT RAKxa Hotel, people put their trust in mindfulness rituals. © Alexandre Tabaste

Luxury health resorts like Lanserhof don't primarily target patients battling a disease, but anyone who wants to maintain and improve their health. It's central to analyze the initial situation in order to then tailor the appropriate therapies. Therefore, guests undergo a comprehensive checkup upon check-in. The specialist staff is also trained to perform gastroscopies and colonoscopies. Basically, it's a classic cure in the luxury segment; therefore, in order to achieve effective change, they recommend a stay of ten days. The minimum is one week. Hotels with this offer aim to have guests let go of unhealthy lifestyle habits and try out new patterns that they can then apply in everyday life.

Related: Lanserhof Sylt – A New Haven of Peace at the North Sea

The legendary Le Bristol in Paris pampers guests with La Prairie products and treatments by Tata Harper. © Le Bristol

Holistic beauty

In return, you get a spa, vacation and beauty hotspot in a completely new total package: SHA Wellness Clinic in Spain, for example, combines techniques and therapies from scientific and natural medicine to achieve an optimal state of health and, what's more, maintain it in the long run. This ranges from nutrition to healthy aging to aesthetic medicine (such as biostimulation of the skin or a treatment with ultrasound waves for a natural lift) as well as cognitive stimulation. Cerebral photobiomodulation is the technical term for a treatment using LED light with different wavelengths to treat exhaustion, stress, sleep disorders, depression or anxiety.

The Cheval Blanc Paris relies on treatments in collaboration with Dior. © Alexandre Tabaste

Beauty and health are not seen as opposites in many of these hotels. With the help of Tricosan technology, for example, the roots and the condition of hair are analyzed in order to carry out hair-strengthening treatments by injecting a cocktail of vitamins and medications into the scalp, for example. But enriched blood plasma, bioactive proteins and growth promoters are also supposed to help hair sprout again. There are often even experts in dental aesthetics, ranging from teeth whitening systems to complex surgical dental implants. A medically supported all-round renewal program for mind and body that is highly effective: it feels as if you've just taken several time-outs at once.