Contributor: Pamela Friedman – CV Skinlabs

StyleList calls not taking enough care of our skin, “one of the worst beauty mistakes a woman can make.” Extreme hot or cold days, dry indoor air, and overly hot showers can wreak havoc with skin. Flaky, irritated and dry skin is often already a problem for women undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. So how can you give your skin the TLC-tender loving care it needs and deserves during treatment?

We asked Pamela Friedman, CV Skinlabs CEO, cancer survivor and skin wellness expert, to tell us how to bring back our skin’s healthy glow!

Chemo Skin, Radiated Skin, Winter Skin–4 Ways to Bring Back the Healthy Glow!

CV Skinlabs was created in response to a need for safe, non-toxic and non-irritating skin care solutions that were very effective for sensitive skin including chemo, radiation and other medically challenging skin issues.

CEO, Pamela Friedman has intimate knowledge of the serious side effects that medical treatments can cause.  She is a stage 4 cancer survivor and lost her husband after a long and difficult battle with multiple and recurring cancers.

Pamela knows what it is like to go through cancer treatments and to suffer side effects impacting the skin.  “My husband and I both suffered from redness, rashes, burns, dryness, hair loss, and more when we were going thru treatments.  And I’ve seen a number of other people suffering from these same symptoms, plus others including itching, eczema, flaking, dullness, fragility and much more.  These conditions aren’t just uncomfortable and sometimes very painful, but they can truly affect confidence and self-esteem.”

If you have cancer, or you have other serious medical conditions, or your skin is just reactive, you can’t use many existing products.  Products with harsh chemicals like sulfates, petrolatum and ureas, can make your skin worse.  So you’re left with few choices.  Of those, many don’t do what you need them to do.  They don’t moisturize deeply.  They don’t calm and soothe.  They don’t encourage healing. 

CV Skinlabs products are specifically targeted for the most sensitive skin there is and to help return skin to glowing health.  If you’re struggling with dry, red, flaky, or irritated skin because of chemotherapy, radiation, medications, or even just the side effects of weather conditions like bitter cold, indoor heat, air conditioning, pollution and other environmental aggressors, here are some tips to help. No matter what, always be kind to yourself, and treat yourself with gentle care!

1. Cleanse

Whenever the skin is compromised, the outer layer becomes fragile and broken, and can no longer hold onto moisture or protect from outside contaminants as well as it used to. That makes cleansing important, but you have to go about it in a different way.

• Use lukewarm, not hot, water. Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness and flaking.
• Wash less often. Unless you have oily skin, try washing your face only once a day, at night. In the morning, simply rinse with lukewarm water, or use an oil-based gentle cleanser.
• Use your hands. Washcloths, sponges, and other cleansing tools can be too harsh for compromised skin. Rub your cleanser into your hands, then work over your face in gentle circles.
• Dry carefully. Choose soft, cotton towels and pat–don’t rub–dry.

2. Moisturize

Damaged skin can’t hold onto moisture very well, which means you need to moisturize more often, like three to four times a day. Get used to carrying moisturizer with you in your purse, in the car, at your office desk, and by your bed.

Your choice of moisturizers, however, becomes even more important. The standard over-the-counter brand full of chemicals will not do. Here are some more nourishing options to try.

• Oatmeal: Add oatmeal to your bath and soak–it’s natural anti-inflammatory and soothing properties will help calm and soothe your skin.
• Vitamin E: Try straight vitamin E on particularly dry areas. It can help moisturize and heal.
• Nourishing products: Choose moisturizers that are full of natural, nourishing ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, plant extracts. Look for fragrance-free. Stay away from petroleum products like mineral oil, as they are more drying in the long run. Try antioxidant rich CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture for Face, Neck, and Scalp and Body Repair Lotion which includes these ingredients, plus proprietary Tri-Rescue Complex that promotes wound healing and repair.
• Natural oils: Other natural oils like calendula, almond, yarrow, jojoba, coconut, rosemary, olive, and sesame can all help naturally moisturize, while also soothing itchiness and protecting the skin with natural antioxidants. Try CV Skinlabs Restorative Skin Balm, which is a nourishing salve that has powerful sea buckthorn oil, yet free of any potentially harmful chemicals or petroleum ingredients. Perfect for cuticles, lips, cracked skin and nails, IV areas, and any area that needs some serious TLC.
• If your skin is too inflamed to touch, try CV Skinlabs Rescue + Relief Spray.  It was formulated as a no touch solution to soothe, nourish, provide relief, and help heal rashes and radiation burns.

3. Protect

Compromised skin is very susceptible to UV rays, wind, chemicals, and other environmental elements. Protection is the name of the game, particularly if you’re going through chemotherapy or radiation, or suffering from the cold, dry weather in the winter months.

• Avoid the sun: UV rays can burn damaged skin very quickly, and even lead to lasting scars. Particularly if you’re going through cancer treatments, you must avoid the sun at all costs. Wear protective clothing–hats, long sleeves, pants; stay indoors at peak hours (10:00 to 3:00); and wear sunscreen always, even when it’s cloudy or when you’re indoors. Zinc oxide is the safest bet.
• Wear gloves: Find some that you like and wear them most all the time. You may also want to wear socks at night if your feet are dry–slather on the moisturizing balm and then wear the socks to bed.

4. Avoid Chemicals

If you have compromised skin of any sort, you’re more at risk from exposure to toxic chemicals, not only because they can further irritate and damage your skin, but because they can more easily penetrate skin’s malfunctioning outer layer and get inside your body.

Chemicals can also make your compromised skin susceptible to more damage over time. A study published in the British Medical Journal (2010), for example, showed that aqueous cream BP–one of the most widely prescribed emollients for the treatment of eczema–actually reduced the thickness of healthy skin over a period of 4 weeks by more than 10 percent, and increased water loss by 20 percent. The researchers stated that the most likely cause was the sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in the cream.

• Wear gloves: Particularly if you’re housecleaning, gardening, or anytime you’re working with potentially toxic chemicals. Better yet, buy cleaning and gardening products with fewer chemicals.
• Use safe products: Shop for your skin-care products from reputable manufacturers that use safe ingredients in their products.
• Look for triggers: If you’re using harsh laundry detergents, shampoos, body washes, save gels, household cleansers, and even air fresheners, these can trigger flare-ups of your skin condition. Get used to shopping for gentle, non-toxic options.
• Consider a shower filter: Those with compromised skin may be sensitive to chemicals like chlorine, which some cities use to purify water. A shower filter will remove these chemicals.

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CV Skinlabs was developed with a panel of experts to be sure every ingredient was not only beneficial to skin, but lacked any connections whatsoever to irritation or other health issues.  As a results, the products are so safe even babies can use them, and they truly work!  You have to use them only once to see it, and over time, the results get even better.  You will gradually see healthier, softer, smoother and glowier skin.