Safe Treatments and Skincare During Cancer Treatments, Winter 2015 Newsletter

Newsletters
|
Advanced Dermatology

SafeSkincareCancerDuring medical cancer treatments and therapies an individual may experience a variety of skin reactions. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments can make the skin very dry, thin and vulnerable due to the rapid dying off of cell tissue. Common side effects in addition to dry skin can be acne lesions, skin flushing, and rashes. This adds another level of discomfort to the already unpleasant cancer treatments. Having hydrating, detoxifying and restorative skin treatments can be very safe and soothing, allowing the skin to look more radiant and hydrated. Soothing and hydrating facials replenish and provide nutrients to the skin. Using antioxidants can prevent excess oxidation, which can cause pre-mature aging, as well as congested pores and inflammation. Hydrators/moisturizers help your skin build a barrier to seal in moisture, preventing dry, irritated and inflamed skin. Facials can be done every 2-8 weeks depending on the advice of your medical provider as well as your medical history.

During and up to one year after completing all oncology medical treatments, only gentle hydrating and restorative treatments should be performed on the skin surface. We can construct a skincare regimen that will assist your healing along with our pampering touch with your facials. At skinfo® Specialty Skincare Boutique, Avène products are great to use during chemo and radiation treatments. Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray ($14) will help soothe skin, Avène Skin Recovery Cream ($34) will help moisturize the skin so it won’t feel as dehydrated. Avène Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream ($30) mixed with Avène Antirogeurs Calm Soothing Repair Mask ($34) at night will replenish the skin, and Avène Extremely Gentle Cleanser ($24) is gentle enough to cleanse skin without stripping natural oils. Excellent choices for antioxidants include SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic ($157) or Phloretin CF ($159) (2010 ELLE Genius Award Winner) and skinfo® Vital tea Ultra Serum or Cream ($82).

Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer can ask to be treated by Mari De La Roca, a Licensed Esthetician who received her oncology certificate in 2013. Mari understands the needs and concerns of cancer patients and is sensitive to the fears and anxiety one may experience when wanting to receive cosmetic treatments during and post cancer therapies.