Skincare During Radiation
Caring for your skin during radiation and/or post surgery. Skin on your face and body may be sensitive due to radiation because you are post-surgery.
Follow these easy tips to help care for your skin and ease some of the side effects you may be experiencing.
Before Radiation
Start A Routine:
If you haven’t started radiation yet, now is an excellent time to start a skincare routine. It will help protect your moisture barrier and give you a good starting point.
Follow these simple steps:
Cleanse
Moisturize
Protect
Make sure you choose products that are labeled with words like:
Gentle
Fragrance-free
ph-balancing
For eczema
During Radiation Treatment
Here are some easy-to-follow tips to help your skin during treatment:
- Keep showers or baths short and use lukewarm water; avoid extreme temperatures.
- Use gentle, fragrance free and ph-balancing products daily to cleanse and moisturize.
- Protect your skin from sun because treatment areas will be extra-sensitive.
- Cover the treated area with sun-protective clothing or items you cannot see through when you hold them up to the light. If you can’t cover the area, ask your care team about sunscreen options.
Be Gentle with the Treatment Area
- Don’t rub, massage or scratch the area.
- Avoid using facecloths. The friction can damage the skin.
- Use a soft towel to pat skin just enough to remove water – don’t rub completely dry.
- Prevent rubbing and friction by wearing loose-fitting clothing, ideally cotton or other soft, breathable fabrics.
Things to Consider
- Save shaving or use hair removal creams for after treatment. Don’t try to remove hair from a treatment area.
- Consider products with thermal water, which have been shown to reduce radiation’s negative impacts on the skin.
- Keep areas under your breast dry to avoid fungal infections in the folds.
Cornstarch (not talcum powder) or an antifungal powder can help manage itchiness and redness.
Experiencing skin side effects?
Learn how to minimize and manage them in our Advanced Skincare Workshop.
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