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Skincare Before and During Cancer Treatment

Taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be complicated. These quick, easy steps can help keep your face feeling healthy before and during treatment.

Easy Skincare Tips During Cancer Treatment

Taking care of your skin while going through cancer treatment might sound like a lot, but keeping it simple can really help. A gentle skincare routine can make your skin feel better and help with some of the side effects, like dryness or irritation.

Here’s a step-by-step routine that’s easy to follow, even on tough days. With the right products and a soft touch, you’ll be giving your skin the love it needs.

1) Cleanse 2) Tone 3) Moisturize 4) Sunscreen

Step 1 – Clean your face (Cleanse)

Why it matters: Washing your face gets rid of dirt, makeup, and dead skin. It also gets your blood flowing, which is great for skin that needs a little TLC.

What to do:

Use a face wash made for sensitive skin (look for ones that say “for eczema” or “gentle” on the label).

Cream or lotion cleansers are usually more hydrating than foamy ones.

Eyes

Use a non-oily, super gentle eye makeup remover and a soft cotton pad.

Hold the pad on your eyelid for a few seconds.

Wipe gently down and out, from the inside corner to the outer corner.

Use a fresh pad for each eye (yep, no sharing).

Lips

You can use the same remover for your lips.

Just wipe gently until all the colour is gone.

Face and Throat

Dab your cleanser on your forehead, nose, cheeks, chin, and neck.

Gently rub in small circles with your fingers.

On your neck, go upwards instead of down.

Use a tissue to wipe it off or rinse with lukewarm (not hot!) water.

Pat dry with a soft towel.

A healthy skin care regiment before and during cancer treatment gives you the best chance of lessening the severity of side effects on your skin.

Choose a cleanser that is specifically for sensitive skin and is fragrance-free.

Step 2 – Tone (optional)

Why it matters: Toner helps remove anything your cleanser missed and preps your skin for moisturizer. It also helps balance your skin’s natural pH.

Application

Use a toner that’s alcohol-free and gentle.

Apply it with a cotton pad, wiping downward.

Avoid your eyes and mouth.

Step 3 – Moisturize

Why it matters: Moisturizer keeps your skin from drying out and helps it feel soft and calm. If your skin feels super dry, check out our guide to pick the right one for you.

Moisturizer Product Guide

Eyes

Use your ring finger (it’s the weakest, so it applies the least pressure).

Tap a tiny bit of eye cream under and over your eye — don’t go too close.

Less is more!

Face and Throat

Dot your moisturizer on your forehead, nose, cheeks, chin, and neck.

Smooth it out gently using upward strokes.

Step 4 – Sunscreen

Chemo and radiation can make your skin way more sensitive to the sun — like, you could burn way faster than usual.

What to do:

Try to stay out of direct sun as much as you can.

Always use sunscreen made for faces with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher (look for UVA and UVB protection).

Need more help picking one? Check out our full sun care guide.

Full sun-care guide

Product Info: Moisturizers (from light to rich)

Not all moisturizers are the same. Here’s the breakdown — start light and go richer if your skin needs more hydration:

Gels – super light, barely-there moisture

Lotions – light but a bit more hydrating

Creams – great for normal to dry skin

Balms – thicker, perfect for dry or flaky skin

Ointments – super rich, heavy-duty moisture

You can use a face oil after moisturizing to lock it all in. Just make sure the oil doesn’t clog your pores (rosehip seed oil is a good pick). Always test it first to make sure your skin doesn’t react.

Not everything has to change during treatment.

Get tips about nails, skincare makeup and hair in our Teens Workshop.

More Resources to Explore

Sun Care Makeup Hygiene During Treatment Hair Loss

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