If you find yourself facing cancer treatments, you probably know that undergoing chemotherapy comes with a host of physical drawbacks. While the chemicals coursing through your veins are a necessary measure to rid the body of harmful cancer cells, the side effects can often seem nearly as damaging as the cancer itself. There is, of course, the hair loss to contend with. But even beyond that well-known detriment, chemotherapy can cause severe skin issues, mainly dryness and rashes. You may think that this is simply par for the course, something that you have to live with while you get through your cancer treatments. But if you'd like to look more like your normal self during the treatment process, there are ways to combat these side effects with beauty products. Although you might simply be too tired to care how you look most days, it never hurts to have the information on hand to help you look better on those rare occasions when you feel like making the effort.
The first thing you need to do if you want to combat the dryness and itching that is often associated with chemotherapy is stay hydrated. Your doctor will almost certainly instruct you to drink plenty of fluids following treatments anyway (as a means of flushing your system) but for your own ongoing health and beauty you should keep this up throughout the course of treatment. From there you will almost certainly need to modify your beauty routine. Regardless of the type of skin you've had all your life (dry, oily, combination), you will almost certainly need to adopt a new regimen that reduces chemical products and increases moisture.
You should use chemical-free and hypoallergenic cleansers for your skin, your body, and your clothing and should switch to moisturizers that are water-based and eschew chemical fragrances and other additives (which can irritate your skin). You will also want to start using sunblock (if you don't already) since your skin will be more sensitive to the sun during treatment. As for dealing with rashes, keeping your dermis hydrated is the best place to start. But if you still suffer itching and other irritations, talk to your doctor so that you can get products for relief that will work with your current slate of medications.
Once your skin is in good shape, you may still want to find ways to look your best. Although there is little you can do to combat hair loss, there are plenty of cosmetic solutions to address your other beauty woes. For example, you can replace lost lashes with false ones and pencil on your eyebrows. And since skin can look dull and dry even with proper hydration you may want to use a luminizing primer to smooth skin for makeup application. You should also try to keep the number of products you use to a minimum to avoid cakiness, so look for 2-in-1 solutions. Liquid-to-powder finish foundations, for example, will not only put fewer products on your skin, but they can be applied in less time than multiple products. And you should consider a cream blush/lipstick/eye shadow combo. The cream formula will blend better, keep skin looking moist, and provide all the color your face needs with one handy compact. It's not just about looking better so you can feel better after cancer detection and treatment; it's also about simplifying your routine so that you don't have to make a big effort to look your best.
(Guest Post by Carol)
The first thing you need to do if you want to combat the dryness and itching that is often associated with chemotherapy is stay hydrated. Your doctor will almost certainly instruct you to drink plenty of fluids following treatments anyway (as a means of flushing your system) but for your own ongoing health and beauty you should keep this up throughout the course of treatment. From there you will almost certainly need to modify your beauty routine. Regardless of the type of skin you've had all your life (dry, oily, combination), you will almost certainly need to adopt a new regimen that reduces chemical products and increases moisture.
You should use chemical-free and hypoallergenic cleansers for your skin, your body, and your clothing and should switch to moisturizers that are water-based and eschew chemical fragrances and other additives (which can irritate your skin). You will also want to start using sunblock (if you don't already) since your skin will be more sensitive to the sun during treatment. As for dealing with rashes, keeping your dermis hydrated is the best place to start. But if you still suffer itching and other irritations, talk to your doctor so that you can get products for relief that will work with your current slate of medications.
Once your skin is in good shape, you may still want to find ways to look your best. Although there is little you can do to combat hair loss, there are plenty of cosmetic solutions to address your other beauty woes. For example, you can replace lost lashes with false ones and pencil on your eyebrows. And since skin can look dull and dry even with proper hydration you may want to use a luminizing primer to smooth skin for makeup application. You should also try to keep the number of products you use to a minimum to avoid cakiness, so look for 2-in-1 solutions. Liquid-to-powder finish foundations, for example, will not only put fewer products on your skin, but they can be applied in less time than multiple products. And you should consider a cream blush/lipstick/eye shadow combo. The cream formula will blend better, keep skin looking moist, and provide all the color your face needs with one handy compact. It's not just about looking better so you can feel better after cancer detection and treatment; it's also about simplifying your routine so that you don't have to make a big effort to look your best.
(Guest Post by Carol)
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