Ok – let’s kick cancer’s ass!

You’re already a winner in my book with your positive attitude. Therefore, congratulations! You might think I’m crazy or insensitive for congratulating you after you’ve just heard the three words from your oncologist that nobody wants to hear, but I’m saying it anyway because believe it or not, you are already a survivor. There are 28 million cancer survivors worldwide and you have the honor of being number 28 million and one to be inducted into this prestigious, elite society. The truth is, everyone who has been diagnosed with cancer is a survivor. Some of us survive for months, even more of us survive for years, and many of us survive for decades, but we all survive. We survive weeks if not months of chemo and radiation. We survive the loss of our hair and the inflamed, sallow skin that results from the toxic chemicals that have been pumped into our veins. So you’re certainly going to survive this little bout of chemo-induced dry skin. One of the most common complaints I hear from my friends and relatives who have gone through chemotherapy and radiation is that their skin becomes extremely dry and sensitive, sometimes to the point of developing a rash. This is a normal side effect of many cancer drugs and is actually a sign that they are successfully fighting the cancer, so you can (and should) be proud of your battle scars to an extent. But living with these skin sensitivities can be… well… more than a little uncomfortable.

best skin care products for cancer patientsTime for a facial

I recommend to everyone who comes to me with this problem that as soon as their doctor proclaims them done with chemo or radiation they treat themselves to a pampering in home facial. The reason I suggest a facial over other spa treatments is because it accomplishes so many of your post-chemo needs all at the same time! You get to relax and receive a stimulating face and scalp massage while purifying your skin of the lingering heavy metals and drugs from the chemo via a soothing, detoxifying facial mask. I would also suggest that, as tempting as it may be to go to a professional day spa, you try your first post-chemo in home facial yourself. This gives you the most control over the types of products and facial treatments at your disposal so you can pick and choose only the ones that are the safest on super-sensitive skin and make sure you don’t accidentally encounter anything harsh that might inflame or irritate your skin.

How to give yourself the best post-chemo in home facial for sensitive skin

If you’ve ever had a professional quality facial you likely already know the typical steps involved in performing a facial on the average spa-goer, including:

  1. Consultation – where the facialist asks you about your skin concerns
  2. Cleansing – where the facialist wraps your hair in a warm towel and cleanses your face
  3. Skin Analysis – where the facialist examines your skin and determines your skin type
  4. Steam – where the facialist mists warm steam onto your face to loosen acne
  5. Exfoliation – where the facialist scrubs away dead skin cells
  6. Extraction – where the facialist removes blackheads, whiteheads, and other acne
  7. Facial Massage – where the facialist massages your face and/or scalp
  8. Facial Mask – where the facialist applies a detoxifying / beautifying mask
  9. Moisturizing – where the facialist uses a toner, moisturizer or serum to finish up

But you’re not the average spa-goer anymore. You’re a member of an elite, prestigious, worldwide society, remember? Your standard, one-size-fits-all facial just isn’t going to meet your new set of specific skin care needs. So here’s what I suggest for giving yourself an in home facial following cancer treatments:

  1. Consultation – consider this article and what you already know about how chemo and radiation treatments affect your skin to be your professional consultation and if you have specific skin care concerns I haven’t yet addressed, feel free to leave a comment or contact me directly and I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction.
  2. dead sea mud cleanserCleansing – as long as you don’t make the towel too hot and you use cleansing products free of alcohols, dyes, fragrances, or preservatives you should be fine. I personally would recommend you try Tre’Yours Dead Sea Mud Facial Cream Cleanser, which is formulated to be super-gentle on sensitive skin and gives you the rejuvenating mineral benefits of the Dead Sea, plus moisturizing, plus deep cleansing and detoxification. Did you know the Dead Sea contains 20+ minerals essential for healthy skin, many of which are found only in the Dead Sea? This is truly one of the best soapless cleansers on the market for cancer survivors.
  3. Skin Analysis – all post-chemo or radiation therapy skin is going to be unnaturally sensitive for a while so your ordinary skin type is temporarily moot.
  4. Exfoliation – even the gentleness of a natural brown sugar scrub may be too much for your unnaturally thin stratum corneum (the outer layer of your skin) to tolerate so I would suggest simply relying on the Tre’Yours Dead Sea Mud Cleanser for your exfoliation needs while your skin is super-tender. It is mildly exfoliating and is safe to use daily even on sensitive skin.
  5. Facial Massage – As long as you’re gentle, there shouldn’t be any chemo-related complications from giving yourself a relaxing face and scalp massage.
  6. Facial Mask – If you feel extensive redness, burning or itching you may want to forego the facial mask this time around, but if you’re up to it, I would recommend the Exotic Earth Soothing Sensitive Mask (bottom left) made with a blend of white and pink kaolin clays to cool and soothe skin sensitivities while providing gentle detoxification of your pores. Or if you want to be bold and brave you can try the Exotic Earth Detoxifying Mask, (bottom center) made with 100% pure green bentonite clay. According to author and cancer survivor Britta Aragon, there is some research that indicates bentonite clay and the naturally occurring anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids found in evening primrose oil can help reduce the acne-like rash that occurs as a side effect of many cancer drugs. The Exotic Earth spa line also offers a bottle of pure evening primrose oil, (bottom right) which you can use as a mixing solution for your bentonite clay to create the perfect facial mask for post-chemo skin care. I recommend you only use a facial mask once per month. facial mask detoxifyingfacial mask for sensitive skinevening primrose oil for dry skin
  7. Moisturizing – This is my best advice and the best tip I can offer you out of everything I’ve said so far. When it comes to finding an all-day moisturizer for unnaturally dry, super-sensitive skin, I have yet to find anything that compares with the soothing, hydrating sensations of Tre’Yours Avocado creams, made with superfoods for skin including organic avocado oil, cucumber extract, organic unrefined shea butter, hemp seed oil, organic dao ren (green) tea, and arnica montana extract. I would personally recommend you start with the Tre’Yours Avocado ADK Face & Body Cream daily, which includes added food-grade vitamin A, D3 and K2 dietary supplements to soothe and protect even the driest most sensitive skin, and the Tre’Yours Avocado Hemp Regenerative Cream with essential fatty acids as a night cream. avocado adk face and body cream tre'yoursavocado hemp regenerative face cream tre'yours

You may have noticed that I’m a big fan of recommending products from the Tre’Yours and Exotic Earth skin care lines, which you may have never heard of before today. That’s because they’re both alternative, natural skin care lines I created myself after becoming fed up with all the nasty chemicals and preservatives used in most mainstream cosmetics and personal care product brands. In 2005 I created Castle Baths, my online bath and body retailer for all the products I’ve created, and in 2010 I signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, pledging to disclose ALL my ingredients and to follow European Union health and safety standards in my formulations. compact for safe cosmetics champion member Though I’ve been very fortunate so far in that I’ve never had cancer myself, my mother died of cancer and I’ve watched numerous friends and relatives go through it and feel that cancer has touched my life nearly as much as it has affected those diagnosed. Yet we survived. We survived our collective shock and indignation when I learned about all the undisclosed carcinogens allowed into cosmetics and personal care products. We survived a decade as advocates for safer beauty, and I sincerely hope we will all survive our joy when your oncologist delivers the three glorious words that every cancer patient wants to hear: you’re cancer free!