Cancer can transform so many things, including how you see yourself and how you feel in your clothes. After so much change, wearing clothing that helps you feel like your favourite version of the new you can be empowering.

I believe when you are feeling disconnected from your body, it is a perfect time to drape it in clothing that is going to make you feel put together. And maybe that means treating ourselves to an amazing pair of PJs or great underwear.

The key place to start is with defining who you are right now and how you want to show up. You want to get super clear on your ideal style and what that looks like (and what it doesn’t).

My recommendation is to start a vision board of outfits that you resonate with. Don’t worry about the models matching you or your body at all, just think of them as mannequins. Start with searching by your style icon or a piece of clothing you used to love to wear, then save all the pictures you pause on.

Once you have 12 or more, take notice of similarities and pieces that you may already own. Use these as your recipes for style. Try shopping your own closet with them first and then take them in store to try them on. Then ask a friend or family member to use a few words to try and describe the style of your style vision board. This will help you get a sense of whether people are describing your style in a way that you want to be seen.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer for this unfortunately. It depends on whether you want to draw attention to your flat chest or balance it. The key thing to think about here is your focal points. Where do you want the eye to be drawn?

If you are looking to add volume at the chest, breast pockets, high necklines or horizontal lines are great. If you would like to draw the eye towards the shoulders, puff sleeves, shoulder pads or epaulettes will work well. Prefer to draw the eye towards the waist? Belts, details or rises that end in the smallest part of your torso work well to show off your natural waist. If your legs are your favourite asset, then I suggest a more streamlined pant or lighter colours or patterns on the bottom.

I recommend using diagonals and focal points to balance your tummy area. Princess seams, ruched shirts or wrap dress are all examples of diagonals built right into clothing. You can also add them on with a blazer, cardigan, or jacket. When left open, they create great verticals and diagonals that carve out where we want people to look.

You want to decide where you want people to look and place your details there. Whether it is an accent colour, or pattern or maybe a detail like a pocket or bow, you can decide where the eye is drawn in any of your outfits.

It is always amazing to hear how many of my clients don’t know their body shape even though we live and dress our bodies every day. So, the best advice I can give, is to get to know your new body and what shape it is, then decide if you want to emphasize that shape and follow the lines or use clothes to create the illusion of a different shape.

For example, a person with an A body shape could decide to emphasize that A shape with tight tops and pants or create more of an X body shape by adding more volume on the top half with a puff shoulder and high neckline. Whatever styles you choose, try fabrics that mimic and follow the lines of your body.

I recommend fabrics and styles with stretch and drape to allow your clothes to adapt well to a changing body. You should also find a local tailor that you can trust. There are so many tricks to allow waistbands to be taken in and out (think of the elastic they put in kid’s clothes). Tailors are worth their weight in gold.

I recommend building a core capsule of pieces you love and feel great in. One layering piece, two bottoms, three tops and four accessories that all work together effortlessly. The key thing is to ensure that all the pieces match in colour and your ideal style.

I recommend a professional colour analysis for anyone who wants to identify the specific tones, tints or shades of the colours that work best for you. But there are a few tips or tricks that you can try at home as well.

Colour analysis palettes are broken up into cold and warm colours, so you can look at whether gold or silver compliments you to try and decipher which side you may belong on.

Another tip is to use an online makeup site to try on lipsticks in various hues to see what harmonizes with you and what washes you out. You can also check the description if you use a foundation or concealer to see if it describes your skin as warm, cold or neutral.

The key thing is to find fabrics that breath and don’t cling.

• 100% Cotton (organic would be great if possible): Soft and breathable, helping to keep skin cool and irritation down.
• Linen: Has great airflow and natural moisture wicking. It is ideal if your skin reacts to heat and sweat.
• Bamboo/bamboo-derived fabrics: Naturally smooth and antibacterial, it is often very comfortable on sensitive skin.
• TENCEL/Lyocell/Modal: Hypoallergenic, soft, and breathable with good moisture management.
• Silk (washable is great too): Has a light smooth surface that minimizes friction and irritation.

You’ll want to avoid anything that ties or zips or buttons along the back. Wrap tops or loose layering pieces are great. If you find any pieces you love with buttons or frustrating closures, you can also take them to your tailor to have velcro or magnets applied to make them easier to get on or off.

To feel as comfortable as possible when wearing compression garments or medical devices you’ll want to focus on fabrics that drape or flow over them rather than restrict you. I also recommend looking for natural fabrics that breath since the compression garments generally do not.

The best way to have a successful shopping trip is to shop with intention and with a list. That means taking stock of what you have at home and what you need. It also means checking out the stores stock online beforehand to plan what you are going to try on.

I recommend trying a capsule wardrobe so you can buy less but wear more. A capsule wardrobe is a small wardrobe that mixes and matches and multitasks. Every piece works with every other piece, so you can close your eyes, pick two pieces and know that they work together.  

As a general rule, keep your skincare routine as simple as possible – no serums, acids, toners, etc.

Historically, the point of toners was that cleansers would strip the essential oil off of the skin, because they were quite strong, and the point of toners is to replenish.  If you use a neutral based cleanser followed by a moisturizer, you do not really need that toner.

Serums are very nice, but they tend to have a lot of added ingredients, like retinol. However, some of the ingredients can be helpful like niacinamide, which is an anti-inflammatory.

Simple rule:  Gentle cleanser.  Good moisturizer.  Great sunscreen. 

The type of base (or “vehicle”) you a product is in—ointment, gel, lotion, or cream—affects how well it works. These terms describe different chemistries, but they can be compared by their viscosity, or thickness. In terms of eczema, the strongest vehicle, from a moisturization standpoint, is an ointment. The issue with an ointment is that it might not be cosmetically pleasing as it can be quite greasy and sticky.

The next best thing is a cream. They are rich, thick, and have a bit of weight to them when you actually scoop them up or put them in your hand. However, they might not rub in quite as nicely as a lotion, which people tend to gravitate to because pump dispensers make application easier and quicker. Lotions contain lots of water and very little oil. Because the amount of oil drops as you move from an ointment to a cream, then to a lotion, oil, or gel, these later products can actually be dehydrating rather than hydrating.

Yes! People going through cancer have skin that is equivalent to eczema. People with eczema have a higher propensity to developing allergies to a product they are using. Even outside of cancer, people come to my clinic experiencing allergies, and I say to them: “I think you are reacting to xxx product” … and they say: “That product? I’ve been using it for the last 20 years.”.

That is exactly right. No one is born with allergies in their skin. We all need to be sensitized to products first and certain treatments can make your skin more sensitive, and therefore make your skin have a greater ability to be sensitized to an allergen. You can use something a million times, and the million and one time, you become allergic to it.

Key signs you are allergic to something:

• If things are getting worse rather than better, when using a product
• If things are red, itchy, scaly, especially in the areas where you are applying the product

I also recommend the website www.producteliminationdiet.com . It’s a wonderful resource and Dr. Skotnicki is fantastic dermatologist. I learn so much from her all the time.

I feel that way too, and I know these products inside and out. Every time I go, I discover new products that I was not aware of.

In general, you want to treat your skin like a person who has eczema – but you don’t necessarily need to get products for “eczema”.

Key words to look for are:

• hypo-allergenic
• fragrance-free – not scent-free (there is actually a difference)
• PH balanced or PH neutral product

There are lots to avoid in the pharmacy or drugstore – especially the acne aisle. Over the counter and prescription treatments tend to be quite irritating . And, acne – or something that looks like acne – is the single biggest side effect that I need to manage as a dermatologist for people that have cancer.

So, you might see an acne-like rash on your skin, but it’s not a great idea to get a strong acne cleanser. Most of these cleansers have acids in them (salicylic acid, lactic acid, alpha/beta hydroxyl acids), which can be irritating to the skin and disrupt the skin’s PH and/or moisture barrier. 

The same caution applies to retinol products. The prescription‑strength form is a retinoic acid (the active acid version of vitamin A) that can cause significant dryness, redness, and irritation. Over‑the‑counter retinol is a milder, non‑metabolically active form, but it still tends to dry the skin, which is exactly what we want to avoid.

Cancer treatments can cause skin reactions that are worsened by sun exposure, regardless of skin pigmentation. Using sunscreen helps protect against harmful UV radiation and prevents these reactions.  

To protect your skin from the sun, it is recommended to apply sunscreen every day, all year round, regardless of the weather. This is because UVA rays are present throughout the year and throughout the day, and they can even penetrate windows. 

If you go outside and engage in physical activities, it’s important to re-apply sunscreen frequently and generously – at least once every 2 hours, and immediately after heavy sweating or swimming. 

When choosing a sunscreen, select one with SPF 30 or higher to protect against UVB, and make sure it is labeled “Broad Spectrum” or shows the UVA symbol to ensure UVA protection as well.  

Apply sunscreen about 20 minutes before sun exposure for maximum effectiveness, and if using a moisturizer first, let it fully absorb to avoid diluting the sunscreen. 

It’s crucial to remember that UVA rays are present year-round and can penetrate windows, while UVB rays are more intense and primarily cause sunburn. For this reason, sunscreen should be applied daily, even when indoors near windows, to protect skin that may be more vulnerable due to cancer treatments. 

If a product is labeled “mineral”, it almost always contains zinc, titanium, or both. Some brands also include chemical filters in mineral formulas, but these filters aren’t inherently bad. In fact, many are safe and well-tolerated. Mineral sunscreens offer excellent protection, though they can be harder to blend in, especially over larger areas of skin.

UV-protective clothing is very effective for sun protection and is strongly recommended for anyone spending long periods outdoors or swimming, since water can wash off or reduce the effectiveness of sunscreen. A wide-brimmed hat offers better coverage for the face and neck than a baseball-style cap. Keep in mind that UPF fabrics can thin and lose effectiveness over time, so they will eventually need to be replaced. 

For cancers other than skin cancer, the skin is not the intended target of radiation; it is more of an “innocent bystander” as the radiation passes through to reach deeper tissues. When the skin itself is not the target, regular moisturizing before, during, and after treatment is often encouraged to help support the skin barrier. Some cancer centres also follow protocols that include a topical steroid to reduce inflammation, and this does not interfere with the effectiveness of the radiation. 

Certain targeted therapies can cause severe acne-like eruptions, known as acneiform eruptions. In these cases, over-the-counter products are usually not effective, and medical intervention is required. 

For adults not on these specific medications, acne can still flare due to underlying tendencies, particularly when the body is under stress. If you notice acne while on treatment, it is important to discuss it with your physician or oncologist first to determine whether it is a treatment-related side effect.  

If it is not linked to your therapy and is a flare of pre-existing acne, your family doctor or dermatologist can provide targeted care. There are many effective interventions for adult acne, including prescription medications and specialized topical treatments, tailored to the type and severity of acne. 

Skin changes are common during cancer treatment and can significantly impact quality of life. About two-thirds of patients say the effects are worse than expected, and around half will experience a treatment interruption or discontinuation because of skin issues. 

If your skin reaction is affecting your cancer therapy and quality of life, see a dermatologist familiar with treatment-related reactions. Often, these skin conditions are a sign the therapy is working, so stopping treatment unnecessarily can be harmful. Proper management can help you stay on therapy while protecting your skin. 

Whether or not you are experiencing hair loss, it’s recommended to use an anti-dandruff shampoo twice a week. Massage it into the scalp and let it sit for 2–5 minutes. These shampoos are anti-inflammatory and soothing. 

If you still have hair and experience redness or itchiness despite using the shampoo, a prescription anti-inflammatory lotion (usually a topical steroid) can be used. Apply nightly until symptoms improve, then gradually reduce frequency. 

For a hairless but itchy scalp, continue the anti-dandruff shampoo and follow with a rich moisturizer, cream, or balm to soothe the skin. 

Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, so it can help with scalp irritation. However, some people may develop an allergy to tea tree oil, and many tea tree shampoos contain fragrances that can also cause reactions, so it’s advised to monitor your scalp for any worsening symptoms. 

For chemotherapies that cause anagen effluvium (hair loss), using an anti-dandruff shampoo twice a week can help keep the scalp healthy. Minoxidil (5% foam, brand name Rogaine) may also be useful—applied twice daily for men and once daily for women. Vitamin supplements can be beneficial as well. For certain chemotherapy regimens, a scalp cooling cap can help reduce hair loss, and there is data supporting its effectiveness. 

Nail changes during treatment can range from general issues like brittleness, cracking, or Beau’s lines—often related to stress—to more specific reactions from certain medications, such as painful inflammation of the nail bed. These problems can be distressing and significantly impact quality of life.

To care for your nails, stick to the basics: use a gentle soap (bring your own to public restrooms if possible), moisturize regularly, and wear gloves to protect your nails from trauma.

For general issues like brittleness or breaking, over-the-counter nail-strengthening lacquers can help. High doses of biotin are best avoided during treatment, as they can interfere with some lab results. 

It depends on the type of treatment. With hormonal therapies, the skin may experience lasting changes. For traditional chemotherapy, the skin usually returns to normal shortly after finishing treatment and once any reactions have subsided.