“Skin Care: During and Post Treatment for Cancer”

Tania Shaw, Dip RM CLT OMT

The largest organ of our body, our Skin, undergoes many changes during treatment for

cancer.

• Surgery interrupts circulatory (vascular and lymphatic), neural and muscular

pathways that have been established since conception by creating scar tissue in the

surgical site as part of the healing process. This area can become hardened and have

an adverse effect on the muscles and tissues surrounding it, as well as on other areas

of the body.

• Chemotherapy dries and depletes the skin of necessary nutrients and hydration. It

can leave the skin thinner, more sensitive and scarred. Peeling and cracking, extreme

dryness, redness, inflammation and irritation known as Hand and Foot Syndrome

(Palmar Plantar Erythrodysesthesia – PPS) leaves the areas affected very sensitive.

• Radiotherapy impairs collagen production during the treatment phase and

thereafter creates fibrosis as the skin continues to contract and dehydrate, and if not

properly managed. Dry desquamation, wet desquamation, radiation dermatitis,

wounds, burns, acne and/or rashes also leave their mark in the form of scar tissue

and that, along with depletion of collagen and other nutrients, can cause the skin to

become thinner and very fragile.

Susceptibility to bruising, tearing and inflammation increases due to impaired tissue

integrity. A heightened increase in the risk of cellulitis, a bacterial infection which is

potentially life threatening if left untreated, is something most people are unaware of.

Careful management of these skin changes is needed to deter further reduction of range of

motion and degradation of tissue health.

Skin care during this time needs to focus on hydration and enrichment of the tissues by

supporting it with products that have essential oils and easily absorbed natural and organic

elements rather than chemically derived ingredients.

The Tree Fairy, based on the Gold Coast in Australia, makes and stocks organic products;

using Young Living Essential Oils as their key ingredient. Their business ethos is: “Why put on

your skin what you wouldn’t put in your mouth?” and fully believe in supporting the body’s

health. All products are vegan: www.treefairy.com.au

RaSaSara Ayurvedic Skincare (created in Melbourne by Sonia Lloyd) has products that have

a minimal ingredient structure; are organic, edible and easily absorbed by our skin.

Ayurvedic Medicine has been around for over 5000 years and is practiced by many as part of

their holistic health care program. Sonia Lloyd and Tania Shaw have worked closely

together to create RaSa-Derm, products that are excellent to use during, and post,

treatment for cancer; most especially radiotherapy.

Go to www.rasasara.com to find a stockist near you, or to order online.

The products below are from RaSaSara Ayurvedic Skincare and have been used in my clinic

for approximately two years now. I’ve found them to be fully supportive of the fragile skin

clients are left with after treatment for cancer. Hydration is achieved by using the Hydrating

Mist on clean skin. Emollients tend to cover the skin, placing a protective layer over and

encouraging hydration internally, and they hinder the skin’s capacity to breathe, release

heat and to absorb moisture. The Face Nourishing Oil is excellent for cooling, soothing and

providing a nutritional source for cellular regeneration and healing. Skin that is cared for

remains pliable and resistant to scar tissue build up; thereby continuing to provide support

for the surrounding areas.

Face Nourishing Oil

Pure rose essential oil & sandalwood oils are the most cooling for reddened and burnt skin.

Organic almond & apricot oils are cooling, restorative and nourishing. The organic jojoba is

a naturally preserving ingredient, whilst still being light and cooling.

*Apricot Kernel Oil / *Almond & *Jojoba Oil; Rose Maroc / Sandalwood & Benzoin Essential Oils.

*Certified Organic

This oil must be used in conjunction with the Aromatic Hydrating Mist as they work as a

whole moisturising system... Oil carries water into the dermis & water carries oil.

*Rose Water, Aqua, Jasmine Essential Oil, Moonstone Gemstone Extract, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Almond Based Solubiliser.

*Certified Organic

Gentle Eye Gel/Makeup Remover

Don’t be put off by the name! This amazingly gentle

superb for extremely sensitive skin as the

expect from a product that’s used in our very sensitive eye area!)

Coconut Fractions, *Coconut, *Jojoba, Aqua,*Rose Water, *German Chamomile Essential Oil, Soy Liposomes, Amigel

(vegetable gum) & Grapefruit Seed Extract.

*Certified Organic

All RaSaSara products are absorbed quickly into your skin without leaving a filmy residue

and allowing the skin to still breathe,

according to the skin’s particular need at the time.

/Makeup Remover

Don’t be put off by the name! This amazingly gentle gel is very versatile; the

superb for extremely sensitive skin as they are used for hypersensitivity (as you would

expect from a product that’s used in our very sensitive eye area!). See pictures below.

Aqua,*Rose Water, *German Chamomile Essential Oil, Soy Liposomes, Amigel

(vegetable gum) & Grapefruit Seed Extract.

products are absorbed quickly into your skin without leaving a filmy residue

breathe, and have the capacity to be used in various quantities

according to the skin’s particular need at the time.

This client had come for MLD and complained of an itchy

back. She had further irritated it by rubbing her back

against her car seat as she drove in an attempt to stop

the itch. As you can see her skin was red and inflamed

was impossible to attempt treatment before addressing

this issue. An application of the RaSaSara product Eye

Gel/Makeup Remover before treatment resulted in

cooling of the area as well as an immediate cessation of

the itch.. great relief!

gel is very versatile; the ingredients are

(as you would

See pictures below.

Aqua,*Rose Water, *German Chamomile Essential Oil, Soy Liposomes, Amigel

products are absorbed quickly into your skin without leaving a filmy residue

and have the capacity to be used in various quantities

This client had come for MLD and complained of an itchy

back. She had further irritated it by rubbing her back

she drove in an attempt to stop

the itch. As you can see her skin was red and inflamed; it

impossible to attempt treatment before addressing

this issue. An application of the RaSaSara product Eye

before treatment resulted in a

ing of the area as well as an immediate cessation of

*** NB. Before application of this product the client was asked several questions related to

her health and wellbeing. There was no broken skin, nor were there signs of infection, fever

and/or nausea. She was advised of the ingredient structure and to immediately tell the

Oncology Massage Therapist if she was feeling any adverse effects.

See the link below from the National Cancer Institute, used as a resource by many in the

Medical field, for further information on Pruritus

http://www.cancer.gov/cancerto

1/AllPages

Oncology Massage Therapists are in a unique position to assist their clients in caring for

their skin by noticing any skin changes and reporting them straight away. Recommending

appropriate skin care is part of what we do; and clients will generally ask for

and opinion when they’re about to undergo radiotherapy. Please avail yourself of the vast

quantity of information available on the internet, speak to professionals you know and

become conversant with skin health and care… Your clients wil

*** NB. Before application of this product the client was asked several questions related to

llbeing. There was no broken skin, nor were there signs of infection, fever

and/or nausea. She was advised of the ingredient structure and to immediately tell the

Oncology Massage Therapist if she was feeling any adverse effects.

e National Cancer Institute, used as a resource by many in the

urther information on Pruritus:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/pruritus/HealthProfessional/page

Oncology Massage Therapists are in a unique position to assist their clients in caring for

their skin by noticing any skin changes and reporting them straight away. Recommending

skin care is part of what we do; and clients will generally ask for

and opinion when they’re about to undergo radiotherapy. Please avail yourself of the vast

quantity of information available on the internet, speak to professionals you know and

become conversant with skin health and care… Your clients will thank you!

Client’s skin after MLD and a second application of the

Eye Gel/Makeup Remover. The relief continued over the

next few days and resulted in the client being able to

achieve quality rest before going into her next

chemotherapy infusion.

Doxirubicin was part of her Chemotherapy; this drug has

Pruritus listed as one of the potential side

Pruritus is defined as “local or gener

irritation of sensory nerve endings”

*** NB. Before application of this product the client was asked several questions related to

llbeing. There was no broken skin, nor were there signs of infection, fever

and/or nausea. She was advised of the ingredient structure and to immediately tell the

e National Cancer Institute, used as a resource by many in the

pics/pdq/supportivecare/pruritus/HealthProfessional/page

Oncology Massage Therapists are in a unique position to assist their clients in caring for

their skin by noticing any skin changes and reporting them straight away. Recommending

skin care is part of what we do; and clients will generally ask for your thoughts

and opinion when they’re about to undergo radiotherapy. Please avail yourself of the vast

quantity of information available on the internet, speak to professionals you know and

l thank you!

Client’s skin after MLD and a second application of the

Eye Gel/Makeup Remover. The relief continued over the

next few days and resulted in the client being able to

quality rest before going into her next

Doxirubicin was part of her Chemotherapy; this drug has

Pruritus listed as one of the potential side-effects.

Pruritus is defined as “local or generalised itching due to

nerve endings” (Merriam-Webster).