Moisturizers

Mstein1970

I'm about to begin radiation therapy, and don't know which moisturizer to try. Among the recommendations I've received are Aquaphor, Eucerin Original and NatureWorks Calendula. I'm not crazy about using a petroleum-based product, but that may work best. I definitely want an unscented product. I'm fair-skinned and my skin is pretty sensitive. Any advice?

Jenwith4kids

Full disclosure here - I am a rep for this company, I joined after throwing the kitchen sink at my stage 3 diagnosis. - - PUREhaven ESSENTIALS is a line of products that contain no harmful chemicals. I used Aquaphor during treatment, but that's because I didn't know about this company yet. If I was going through it again I'd use the dream cream, possibly combined with the toner.

Now that I know what I know, I also stay away from most commercial products. Happy to talk some more; feel free to message me or comment here.

Jen

ArtyMom

my radiology oncologist gave me lotion that he wanted me to use. I would check with your doctor before buying anything

MinusTwo

Yes, do check with your RO. They are very picky about what they'll approve. Mine agreed I could use CeraVe instead of Aquafor

ChiSandy

CeraVe is what I use for “maintenance” now (arms & legs too). I did use Aquaphor right after each session, then at bedtime first pure aloe vera gel (Fruit of the Earth) and then calendula cream (Boiron). Switched to CeraVe when I began PT for LE & cording. Later, my dermatologist had me use a prescription triamcinolone ointment on skin that she thought still looked too pink and felt too fibrosed, and that worked too. I am now in remission from Stage 0 LE.

Butterfly1234

My RO said I could use Shea Moisture coconut oil 2x a day but not less than 4 hours before rad treatment. I would check with your RO first before using. It's pure and no added ingredients.

BCinGA

My RO suggested I get this moisturizer. It is clear and water based. It has aloe and green tea extract among other things. And it was created by someone who has gone though all of this before. I'm using it 2 or 3 times a day, and am 10 sessions in right now. My skin looks a little pink at night, but that's all right now.

Moisturizing Gel for Radiation Therapy

AmusingSoprano

You might want to check out Mepitel film. This largely prevents radiation burns and desquamation if used correctly. It is the standard of care at my hospital, where the original trials were conducted. Info:

Press release

The original thesis

Pub Med article (this is the one that doctors will want to see)

I am fair-skinned and burn easily, I had 25 rads and all I got was a slight tan on my breast and a slightly reddened bit in my armpit (can be hard to get the film to stay on because the armpit is so mobile). The Mepitel film stays on the entire time you are treated and for up to 10 days afterwards as radiation keeps heating the skin for some time after treatment finishes. We had a breast care RO who checked the film three times a week and replaced any bits that were peeling off.

Also we were instructed to use cold cloths 3-5 times a day (soak a tea towel or cloth in water, put it in a plastic bag then put the bag in the fridge).

Happy to answer questions.

Lexicoe

AmusingSoprano, do you have any suggestions for figuring out how many and what size Mepitel strips to get? And for the Mediplex under the arms?

AmusingSoprano

Hi Lexicoe

Not sure but I will email my breat care RO and ask her for her advice. Stand by

AmusingSoprano

Hi Lexicoe

Repeating here from your other thread:

The RO guru says:

MF sizes: 10 x 25cm

10 x 12cm

6 x 7 cm

I imagine a box of each would be fine.

If this person is having Post Axilla treated (and therefore has a treatment field on back of shoulder), then the 15 x 20cm is a good size to cover.

Artista928

I used Miaderm. It was developed specifically for radiated skin by an RO. It's otc but not kept on drugstore shelves. You can get it online or ask for it at the pharmacy.

dlb823

It depends somewhat on your skin type. If you are fair or burn easily, emu oil is very healing, as are products containing calendula. I found out about emu oil from another patient. Our rad onc had recommended it to her because she was very fair (vs. my olive skin), so I bought some because I didn't think the aloe vera that had been recommended to me was that great, and I sailed through rads with no issues.

Hopeful82014

I, too, used Emu oil, at the suggestion of my 2nd opinion RO (my own RO was fine with it, too.) I used the EMU oil at night. Straight after tx. in the a.m. I used pure, liquid aloe and covered that with a very cold cloth for the drive to office/home. Slathered on more aloe several more times each day as well as a proprietary radiation treatment my BS suggested. I kept the aloe in the fridge both for freshness and cooling.

I'm fair and my skin did GREAT. All my MDs were shocked when they saw it a month after end of treatment (and I had a lot); it looked completely untreated by that point.

Emu oil is available at some stores or on line. I used it after tx. until it was gone then switched to alternating Boiron Calendula lotion, pure coconut oil, and occasionally BioOil. I still use coconut oil nightly all over my chest, neck and upper part of my back. The oil's also good for massaging scars, once given the go-ahead.

Deanna, it's nice to run into someone else who's used Emu oil - and I'm glad it worked out well for you, too.

MinusTwo

I also used Miaderm, although my RO thought Aquafor was sufficient. It worked great.

Artista928

Aquafor was too greasy to me. I like how Miaderm gets absorbed and disappears. I don't like residue like other creams, oils, etc leave.

MinusTwo

Artista - try CeraVe. It all absorbs, no greasy feel, and you can wash your hands three or four times w/o having to re-apply. I have no financial interest in the product. It's just the one several derm docs have recommended the last few years. When my OB/Gyn came to see me after surgery & saw the bottle on the table she said oh hooray, you know about this.

Butterfly1234

I also found aquaphor too thick and made me itch. The Shea Moisture coconut oil is working really well for me with hydrocortisone cream for itch. I say whatever works for you and OKd by RO is the way to go. Gentle hugs all,

ChiSandy

Bear in mind that the degree of skin damage you will have from radiation may have nothing whatsoever to do with the color or even the sensitivity of your skin in general. I am very pale and sunburn very (too) easily, never had a tan that didn’t wash off in the shower. Yet the worst I had was redness and fibrosis—no pain, no itching, no skin breaks, no irritation. That’s because the damage is NOT a “burn.” A true burn, including sunburn, is caused by sun or other heat damage to the outer layers of the skin, and the “degree” (first, second, third) is determined by how deep below the surface the damage goes. A first (redness & pain) or second (blistering) degree burn is partial-thickness, to the epidermis or surface layer, and will usually heal without leaving evidence. A third degree, or “full-thickness” burn involves charring or cooking of both the epidermis and the dermis and if it does heal there will be scarring. That is because the dermis and its foundation produces new skin cells that eventually make it to the surface, and the damage to those foundation cells is, if incomplete, nonetheless results in scar tissue; and if complete, requires skin grafting from another site on the body to fully cover the damage and stimulate new cell growth.

But radiation skin damage happens from the inside out—it starts below the dermis, and way below if the tumor cavity is fairly deep beneath the surface. What we perceive as a radiation “burn” is the result not of damage to the surface of the skin but to the tissues that form new skin cells—a turnover process that is ongoing and replaces epidermal cells as they slowly die and flake off (so slowly as to be imperceptible). What you see as redness and broken skin is skin that is not being replaced as it normally should be because the tissues that form the new cells have been damaged and cannot make new skin cells at a normal rate. That is also why, after radiation treatment ends, you will continue to see damage that progresses before it reverses. (And it will reverse—eventually those damaged tissues start making new skin cells again with greater speed).

So “radiation burn” treatment is designed to soothe and protect skin that has been damaged from the inside, rather than prevent a burn from going deeper. It gives symptomatic relief and prevents further injury to the skin that isn’t being replenished from within the way it normally is. It can’t heal the skin any faster—only time will do that. But it will protect the skin and make it feel better as the cell-turnover process resumes on the way to its normal rate.

Butterfly1234

Excellent explanation!

Rwrighty

My doctor's protocol is to spray a concentrated green tea on breast 4 times a day. And calendula cream - I purchased on amazon "My girls skin care" I have first tx June 12th. Had the scan and mapping yesterday. I also am fair skinned and hope for no burns.