On top of treating your skin for dryness, you must incorporate sunscreen into your daily routine, says Dr. Bank. Makeup is not off limits, but stick to products designed for dry skin so that they don't leach away more moisture. For example, instead of using powder eyeshadows and blush, use cream formulas such as Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush and Becca Eye Tint.
If you experience flakiness, avoid the temptation to use exfoliants to scrub off dry skin. This will only irritate sensitive skin and may cause infection. "Exfoliation is basically a 99.99% bad idea," says Dr. Bank, "because you're dealing with injured, weakened skin." Postpone using anything with scrubbing beads and exfoliating chemicals such as alpha hydroxy acids until your skin heals completely.
Unfortunately for many patients, these skin changes may not dissipate for many months. Sandee says, "Before treatment, my skin type was normal. Now it tends to be much dryer." While no two people's reactions to chemotherapy and radiation will be the same, remember that these changes are expected and can be alleviated. However, if you experience an intense and/or painful allergic reaction with any skin care product after undergoing cancer treatments, stop using it immediately and inform your oncologist and dermatologist of the reaction.
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