Stand Up To Cancer

In her new book Heal Your Skin, Dr. Ava Shamban, a renowned board-certified dermatologist, gives an in-depth look on the benefits and importance of skin care. Chapter nine, Cancer Treatment: Renewing Your Skin, specifically discusses skin care tips in preparation for and during cancer treatment. Cancer treatment isn't easy on the skin. How you take care of your skin as you go through treatment can impact not only your quality of life, but also your emotional well-being. Your mantra during this time is to remember that whatever is happening to your skin, no matter how dismaying: 'It's only temporary.' Almost everyone will experience some side effects, but the severity varies among individuals. Those side effects range from dry skin to body rashes. As you prepare your skin for cancer treatment, the best way to minimize the side effects of the treatment is to get your skin as fit as possible. Get a routine. The products that you use should be nourishing, fragrance free, and nonirritating. Invest in a good sunscreen or sunblock, at least SPF 25, with broad-spectrum protection.

Get rid of old makeup, dirty hairbrushes, used sponges, and skin care products past their shelf date.

During cancer treatment...some general skin-saving tips you should follow:

Handle with care. The skin is especially fragile at this time because it cannot regenerate itself in a normal way.
Avoid any aggressive skin or hair treatments. Go fragrance free -- anything heavily scented that touches you now has the potential to irritate your skin...like perfume, toilet paper, facial tissue, scented laundry soap, dryer sheets and fabric softener.

Use a humidifier, particularly in the bedroom while you sleep. It's an excellent idea because it adds moisture to the skin and the hair.

Wear gloves. Hands are one of the most vulnerable parts of the body to experience dryness, cracking and fissures because they're constantly placed under adverse conditions. Wear clean, dry, long, waterproof gloves for all wet household chores and thin white cotton gloves for dry household chores.

Maintaining a regular daily skin care regimen is critically important, not only for your own sense of well-being but also for your health. Caring for your skin will keep it stronger and better able to withstand the assaults of your cancer treatment. The goal is to keep your skin as healthy as possible so that you can continue with your treatment.

Heal Your Skin: http://www.avamd.com/dermatology/index.htm