Posts Tagged ‘skin care’
My Skin is Dry, Itchy and Covered with a Rash, and My Oncologist has Very Few Suggestions – Help!
You’re taking a new cancer drug, and though it may be working on the cancer, it’s causing havoc on your skin. You ask your oncologist, but unfortunately, he/she does not have many answers. What’s going on? And what can you do to help your skin?
“’Brillo pad’ skin arrived on my face within days of starting Tamoxifen,” says fighter Verite Reily Collins. “This was nasty, dry skin that made my face rough, sore, red and wrinkly. Rushing to the hospital, I managed to find the elusive oncology nurse. She peeled strips of skin off my arms, saying, ‘You do have a problem, but I don’t know what you can do.”
Unfortunately, many cancer patients experience this problem. New drugs that are sometimes more effective against tumors can also come with new and more severe skin reactions, like rashes and dermatitis. Some oncologists don’t know what to offer in terms of solutions, so they often refer you to a dermatologist, but again, not all dermatologists are necessarily skilled in handling skin problems caused by cancer treatments. (Unless the individual has training in oncology esthetics.)
What can you do? First, be aware that cancer treatments can cause skin reactions, and ask your doctor ahead of time what to expect. Second, learn to treat your skin differently. Apply moisturizer when your skin is damp to reduce irritation from touch. Find moisturizers that are toxin-free and extra gentle, like Otopia Organic Purity Moisturizing and Soothing Cream for Newborns, or one of the Eminence Organic moisturizers. If your skin breaks out in a rash, do not use harsh, acne products. The reaction is not acne and acne creams will only make the situation worse. See our post for more natural solutions. Finally, choose mild cleansing formulas, like Terressentials Fragrance-Free, or Love to Know Organic. If you’re recommended to a dermatologist, ask for his/her credentials in oncology skin care.
The good news is that oncology nurses are becoming more alert to the problem, and many are getting training on how to better deal with skin side effects. Oncology Nursing News reports that, “The topic of cutaneous reactions to cancer therapy is much on the minds of oncology nurses these days. It was the focus on an instructional session and a satellite symposium at the ONS 33rd Annual Congress.” You may be fortunate with your nurse—ask her about your skin reactions and see if he/she can help.
Did you have an oncologist who couldn’t help with your skin-care side effects? What did you do?
Photo courtesy roidinc via Flickr.com.
Estrogen Everywhere: Hormones Linked to Breast Cancer in Your Skin-Care Products?
Science still isn’t sure what causes breast cancer. Most likely, it’s a myriad of things dependent on a person’s genetic makeup, diet, lifestyle, exposure to dangerous chemicals, and stress levels. However, researchers have long speculated that estrogen—a hormone necessary for normal development and growth of the breasts and organs important for childbearing—may have something to do with it. According to researchers from Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors (BCERF) in New York, estrogen may be implicated in breast-cancer risk because of 1) its role in stimulating breast cell division; 2) its work during the critical periods of breast growth and development; 3) its effect on other hormones that stimulate breast-cell division; and 4) its support of the growth of estrogen-responsive tumors. Women with high lifetime exposures to estrogen may be at higher risk, BCERF concludes. (more…)
Try These Natural, Homemade Skin-Care Wonders from Your Kitchen
In your quest for chemical-free, more natural products to use on your sensitive, compromised skin, you don’t always have to search online or at the far corners of the skin-care shelves. Sometimes, you can find the best products right in your own kitchen!
Following are several homemade remedies you can try. Be sure to test each one on a small area of skin first, to prevent any allergic reactions. (more…)
Garlic for Cancer Prevention. Did you Know it can also add Luster to your Hair?
There’s nothing like a little garlic bread with an Italian meal, but flavoring food is just one of the many talents this little clove possesses. Scientists and nutritionists have long recommended it to detoxify the body, boost immune defenses, fortify the cardiovascular system, and kill fungi. But did you know that garlic is once again in the spotlight because of its ability to benefit the skin? (more…)
