Chemo causing aging

JenLee- I hear you! I am 46 and have a 9 and  6 year old. My skin looked great during chemo (killed all that acne causing bacteria), but now I feel greasy yet dry and just blah looking. My husband says he doesn't see it, but I do. I am seriously considering having at least a good peel done or maybe even laser resurfacing- if I can afford it!! Oh, the eyes are looking pretty saggy too!

well, i was 49 when diagnosed.  i am now 59 and yeah, i think i have aged physically from chemo, rads and arimidex.  i guess for me, i just am glad to be alive...doing well....the wrinkles...the side effects from arimidex...rads....chemo...is all a part of my treatment and my survival.  there is beauty in working through the side effects of treatment.  back in the old days; i am not even sure i would still be NED but i am.  so yeah, treatment aged me, but i am thinking "so what"   it is good to aged when you have been diagnosed with cancer* hah

jenlee, yes I would wait till after chemo. There is no hurry as this treatment will help whenever you start (assuming you aren't already very old).

I’m considering some filler....seeing the plastic surgeon in 2 weeks about that and the uglies left under my arms

I'm mid-50s, used to be able to pass for 40s, but chemo made me look like I was in my late 60s. It was absolute hell on my skin and my face felt like sandpaper. I couldn't even wear a tinted moisturizer because it turned to a muddy mess. Nothing I tried was any help. A friend recommended Cerave products, they are affordable and can be found in your drugstore, Walmart, Target, etc and apparently known to work on "chemo skin". I was skeptical but I am absolutely amazed. My face looks so much better and friends keep mentioning how "radiant" I look. Even my nurses have been commenting on how good my facial skin looks.

I've been using a thick coat of the Skin Renewing Night Cream on my face and neck before I go to bed and the SPF30 Facial Moisturizing Lotion during the day. Also using their body cream. I had visible results after just a few days. They have a printable $2 coupon on their website and you can use up to 4 at a time (on 4 products). It doesn't solve all of the problems of chemo aging but it's cheap enough that it's worth giving a try!

LoriCA - thanks for tips! Will check them out!

Chemo aging -- I found it gets better as time gets farther out from chemo. I look back on my chemo pictures (6 years ago) and the next couple of years and I looked really rough. But it gets better. My sister also went through chemo. I was looking at her post chemo pictures the other day. She is now 3 years out and looking much younger again.

Pingpong, I too immediately got all the wrinkles around my mouth. I look like my grandmother. My poor sister said that and I snapped at her but sadly it s true. Everyone can see the rapid aging and I am embarrassed to see people that have not seen me in a few years. I remember during chemo all my pores were purging. The doctor said all the impurities were being flushed out by the drug and he said during chemo many say their skin never looked better. He was also the same moron who assured me my hair would grow back just as before but it did not and grew back dark, straight and stringy. Then when I complained about how my hair was falling out on arimidex he said "Good, then we know the drugs are working like they should" as he walked out of the room. Talk about putting lipstick on a pig.

It is good to vent her and to know I am not alone. It is just harsh that just when we are at our very lowest we get slammed with this. Aging is inevitable but what a blow it is to lose your face and body all at once.

hello, I'm new to the forum. I went online and bought Dr Cynthia Bailey's chemo skin care kit. Along with the green tea treatment. It seems to be out of stock frequently so people are buying it. Thought it would be worth a try so I will see i guess. In the past I would be too tired to always take care of my skin but have made it a priority. I also take a hair ,skin , and nail vitamin daily and drink a lot of water. I'm still early on with my chemo treatments but wanted to get a jump start. So far I like the product and my skin looks fine but I am early on. Time will tell i guess.

1. vitamin A acid

2. sunscreen

3. collagen supplement

Jenifer I'm just a few months out of chemo and not yet a month past radiation. I had surgery prior to chemo. I just want to tell you my skin took a hit from chemo, with many of the same issues you discussed, and has bounced back tremendously. I still have a bit of residual redness but it is slowly improving. I think one of the most important things during chemo and after is to use a good sunscreen. Chemo, just like retin A makes skin very photo sensitive so use it everyday. And drink lots of water to flush those chemo drugs from your body.

Another thing that has helped my skin is that I have started back to the gym where I'm working hard to regain my fitness. It may be a little easier for me as I love to work out and being back at the gym is something I embrace as normal. Overall, my energy level is nearly back and physically I feel very well. During chemo I never thought I would bounce back physically so quickly after chemo. I know it's different for everyone. Of course I'm still working through the emotional effects of the past 6 months and in many ways for me that's the harder part.

Anyway, just don't get me started about my hair, that's a different story, lol.

I just want to close by urging you to hold tight to your optimism. The complete story hasn't been written yet. There's a lot to be said for believing it will have a good ending.

Good luck to you with your chemo ClareCo. I kept my hands and feet cold during chemo which I think helped me ward off neuropathy. In turn that helped me get back to exercising faster. I used ice socks ordered from Amazon and held on to frozen water bottles for my hands.

During chemo (it strains the skin for sure so be patient and gentle with your skin):

Sunscreen-yes yes YES!! everyday & forever, especially important during chemo

Gentle cleanser & moisturizer

After chemo both above and:

A well formulated AHA or BHA exfoliant (depending on skin type), addresses pore size, texture

Retinol (if your skin can tolerate it) works miracles on wrinkles, but takes time and patience.

Vitamin A & C serum, brightens & smooths

A well formulated moisturizer for your skin type

Lots of water

Exercise

Good skincare doesn't have to be expensive...some great products are available at the drugstore!

A wonderful web resource for info on the best skincare/cosmetics with product ratings that I use is Paula Begoun's www.beautypedia.com, there's also a phone app. I'm regularly flipping through product ratings in the store before I fork over hard earned cash for something useless, expensive and skin damaging. It's scary how many products claim to be a miracle worker but are full of alcohol and fragrance (skin killers), and just don't work. The info on the site has brought my skin back from the ravages of treatment and tamoxifen. If you check the site out be sure to read the articles on skincare as well as the ratings...so helpful!

I agree with Klvans, the hair and nails are still an on going battle. My only saviour there has been Biosilk spray in treatment. Now I manage to pull off Little Orphan Annie, great skin shame about the hair LOL!!

clareco, I have read this thread and thought I was prepared as I start on April 24th. Now the face issues! Bless all these ladies for the product recommendations. Im on my way to look for Cerave.It looks like you and I start the same week, stay in touch, as we hang on to life as we know it.

First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration cream really kept my skin hydrated for 24 hours after applying it. Started using it during chemo with great success and still use it today, as needed