Cancer and the skin: taking care of yourself to regain confidence
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
The announcement of a cancer diagnosis for you or one of your loved ones causes great shock and many upheavals in several aspects of your life. In addition to the changes that occur invisibly inside the body, several changes can be observed in your physical appearance. Given the repercussions that this can have on your self-esteem, we offer you some recommendations to take care of yourself and your skin .
Several undesirable skin effects can occur depending on the intensity or frequency of chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments, taking multiple and varied forms. Due to the nature of the treatments, which target cancer cells, but also affect healthy cells, the skin is generally weakened. She may therefore be more sensitive, reactive, or become irritated more easily.
Dry skin, also called xerosis
Cause : Alteration of the skin barrier and reduction in sebum production.
Manifestations : Dry skin or skin with eczema.
Acneiform eruptions, not to be confused with acne
Manifestations : Itching or discomfort, without blackheads or cysts.
Hand-foot syndrome
Manifestations : The hands or feet show dryness or more or less significant scaling.
Various pigmentary changes
Manifestations : Hyperpigmentation of the skin (chemotherapy), hypopigmentation and depigmentation (targeted biotherapies).
Caution : Exposure to the sun can intensify the appearance of these spots.
Photosensitization during anticancer treatments
Manifestations : Inflammation, burning or change in pigmentation
What are the products or actions to promote to deal with it?
Certain procedures or care products can help minimize the skin discomfort caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments.
Maintain skin hydration as much as possible
In order to restore the skin barrier, substances that are called occlusive or film-forming prevent excessive water loss. In fact, they form a thin physical film on the surface of the skin , which protects it while preventing the evaporation of water. These anti-dehydrating agents are, for example, argan oil or shea butter, ingredients which are found in the silky and rich textures of Omy tailor-made creams.
Capture water and retain it on the surface of the skin
Ingredients that we call hygroscopic have the ability to capture and retain water. Hyaluronic acid falls into this category. As it is found at a high level in the tailor-made serum , it helps fight against dehydration. To use it to its full potential, after spraying Canadian mineral aquifer water , apply it directly to damp skin in order to trap the water molecules in the epidermis.
Use hygiene products that respect the pH of the skin
In order not to alter the skin barrier, it is important to select a cleanser with a pH that can be described as physiological. Dermatological bars, “soap-free soaps”, Active Omy cleansing foam or Délicate mineral micellar water are all products that meet this criterion. Indeed, with their adapted pH, these do not alter the hydrolipidic film present on the surface of the skin and acting as a shield.
Refresh and soothe sensitized or irritated skin
A cool spray, delivered using mineral-rich water such as mineral aquifer water, helps soothe the skin and reduce inflammation following treatment. Its richness in essential minerals helps restore the balance of the skin , itself rich in several of these components.
Take care of yourself, all the way down
Hand care is recommended for people who are undergoing chemotherapy treatments that have a significant impact on their hair, body hair or nails. Using a moisturizing and nourishing cream helps combat dryness and repair cracks in the hands. Délicate Omy hand cream captures moisture in the skin and helps restore its skin barrier thanks to ceramides, argan oil and shea butter. This can also be applied to nails damaged or weakened by treatments.
Luckily, I discovered the Omy range just in time to save my skin which suddenly had specific needs. I'm confident that no ingredient will cause my newly finicky skin to react, because Omy takes the time to personalize your cream.
- Sabrina, triple negative breast cancer survivor.
Ingredients to avoid during the entire treatment, and even after
Given that the skin of people undergoing or having undergone cancer treatments is weakened, the safety of the products used is all the more important.
Drying or “stripping” ingredients
Given their tendency to destabilize the hydrolipid membrane, alcohol and soap should be avoided at all times, as they are not suitable for fragile skin. These products have a delipidizing effect, that is to say they dissolve fat. They therefore tend to also remove the sebum present on the surface of the skin , leaving it dry and/or irritated.
Allergenic or photosensitizing ingredients
All potential allergens should be avoided on more sensitive or reactive skin . We are talking in particular about synthetic perfumes or fragrances or essential oils. In addition to their strong allergenic potential, some can have a photosensitizing effect, therefore increasing sensitivity to the sun. Methylisothiazolinone, often abbreviated as MIT, is a preservative that may cause allergies or irritation, especially on damaged skin .
Petroleum-derived ingredients
All ingredients derived from petroleum chemistry, such as petroleum jelly, paraffin or mineral oil, form an oily film on the skin and tend to suffocate it. Silicones also have this property and should be avoided as much as possible.
Chemical filters in sunscreen products
Certain chemical filters used in sunscreen products are suspected or considered to be endocrine disruptors. In addition, their irritant or allergenic potential can cause reactions as well as photosensitization. The use of mineral sunscreens is therefore recommended, since they remain on the surface of the skin .
Formaldehyde and the molecules that release it
Formaldehyde, used as a hardening agent in several cosmetic products, is classified as a proven human carcinogen. Ingredients that are added to slowly convert to this molecule should also be avoided, given their irritant, allergenic and potentially carcinogenic properties.
We hope that these few recommendations will allow you to keep your spirits up during this period of your life which can be difficult, both physically and psychologically. Do not hesitate to contact us for personalized advice or if you have any questions regarding an ingredient or product. We will answer your questions with the greatest pleasure!
