Our friend Jasmine was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2013 and came in to talk to us about her experiences undergoing chemotherapy.
Jasmine told us that one of the many side effects she struggled with was the damage that the treatment did to her skin, hair and nails.
Because chemotherapy can cause skin to become hypersensitive, extremely dry and flaky, Jasmine found it hard to find products that wouldn’t irritate or cause her skin further inflammation.
Watch Jasmine's story
If you have recently been treated with chemotherapy, you may have been advised to use only scent-free skin and hair care products. In this guide, we look at our range of scent free products and share some tips on caring for your skin during and after treatment.
*Note: Always follow the advice of the staff on your oncology unit. The information found on this page may not be suitable for all types of chemotherapy or side effects.
"Look after yourself and don't use chemicals, that's all I really wanted to say" - Jasmine
Which products can I use during chemotherapy?
According to Cancer Research UK, there is evidence that it can be helpful to wash skin daily with a gentle, perfume-free soap – although be sure to follow the advice of the unit you are being treated on.
Green People is a leading organic skin care company. Our scent-free Sensitive range is rich in natural, plant-derived extracts and oils to help restore, protect and maintain your skin’s natural barriers.
Our skin-friendly natural creams and lotions absorb easily into the skin to leave it hydrated, nourished and balanced, while our cleansing products are free from irritating SLS and instead contain gentle foaming agents from Yucca that do not dry the skin out.
Our products are kind to sensitive skin
For the face:
Try our gentle Neutral Scent Free Cleanser and soothing 24-Hour Cream which is packed with vitamins, minerals and botanical plant extracts.
For your hair:
Remember that your skin may come into contact with other products such as shampoo and conditioner so you may also wish to consider scent free hair care too.
For your body:
Our Scent Free Shower Gel is pH-balanced and contains no perfumes or essential oils. Follow with our Scent Free Body Lotion to restore the moisture and sebum balance on legs, arms and hands.
Use a gentle deodorant free from pore-clogging Aluminium, such as our Scent-Free Deodorant. This is rich in ingredients such as soothing Aloe Vera and Prebiotics to promote healthy skin flora.
Chemotherapy skin care: further tips
- After washing, gently pat the skin dry or blow dry with a hair drier on its cool setting
- Apply creams or lotions lightly to avoid further damage, again by gently patting the skin
- Protect skin from sun by covering up and wearing high SPF sunscreen
- Drink plenty of filtered water to keep skin hydrated from within
- Avoid using harsh synthetic chemicals such as SLS, phthalates, parabens, chemical pesticides and triclosan
Have you got a question about chemotherapy skin care or products for sensitive skin?
Our customer care team are happy to help you identify which of our natural skin care products might be suitable for your skin. Please call us on 01403 740350 or email organic@greenpeople.co.uk.
