Uber Vigilant Skin Care

Rewind to December 2012

Back in December, as soon as my mastectomy site was pain-free enough to touch, I started being extra diligent with skin care and moisturizing. At the time, I wasn't even considering what would happen to my skin during radiation, I just kept imagining that supple, moisturized skin would "expand" better than taut, dry skin. Dr. Meredith, my plastic surgeon, was constantly impressed with the excellent condition of my skin when I went for inflations.

I have dark-pigmented skin. Therefore, I have always tanned easily, and rarely get sunburned. However, particularly since I've reached "middle age", my skin gets very dry and I'm constantly saturating it with lotion. My morning ritual of lotion after every shower would serve me well after my surgery, and I even began lubing up before bed at night.

Fast Forward to Radiation  

Many people who receive radiation experience skin problems, including dryness, itching, blistering, or peeling.  Typically, these symptoms start about Week 3 of treatment, and usually resolve within a few weeks after treatment ends. These changes occur because radiation damages healthy skin cells in the treatment area.  Some people even experience something called "moist reaction", sores or ulcers at the treatment site caused by the skin peeling off faster than it can reproduce.

I'm feeling pretty sorry for my body's cells right about now!! I mean, here they are, merrily trying to reproduce as per normal, and in the last six months doctors have done nothing but try to stop them in their tracks.  First, chemo, which kills off any quickly dividing cell in my body. Now, radiation is killing off cells in each day's target zone. I'll bet my microscopic little cells are mighty confused right about now.

On alternating days, when I get the pseudo-skin laid over top of my radiation site, the rays are intended to target my skin. The therapists warned me that I would be even more likely to have skin reactions because of this. However, here I am at treatment #16 (can you believe it??!!??) today, and my skin is doing extremely well. [Well, I realize I was covered in ugly, red bumps and whined incessantly about them but, not counting that, my skin is doing tremendous!] I'm so relieved and thankful, and my doctor and therapists are incredibly impressed.

My uber vigilance includes lotioning at least three times a day with one of the recommended lotions. The key piece of information is that the ingredient list should start with WATER, never lanolin or a petroleum product. This Lubriderm is an excellent choice.

While visiting in Trail on the weekend, I was told that drinking aloe vera gel might also be helpful. Yes, you read that right -- DRINKING IT! In the past, I have used aloe gel topically on over-sun-exposed skin, but I hadn't heard of consuming it.  I picked up a bottle of aloe vera "beverage" -- which I realize isn't the full-strength, real deal -- but it is extremely tasty and I have downed two glasses each day since.  I'm told that real aloe is NOT pleasant to drink, but learned via a website this morning that I may be able to find it dried for including in smoothies, etc.  I will go back to the health food store soon and try to find it in dry form.

Easing myself into real aloe vera gel with this "beverage".

Doing an extensive amount of reading about aloe this morning, I learned some very interesting things. Aloe vera gel has been known to halt the growth of cancer tumors (!!!!!!!), accelerates healing from radiation burns on the skin, hydrates the skin, and accelerates skin repair at the radiation site. This is another example of one needing to do their homework.  Are these claims true? I'm not sure. But, my attitude is what's the harm in trying it?!? I would NEVER only drink aloe vera and skip chemo or radiation, but if it helps my skin repair itself, I'm all for it.  If you are interested in reading some of the information I found, here is a link, Aloe Vera Information

I realize that I may still experience the "after effects" on my skin such as darkened pigmentation or thinning and harder skin at the site.  But, for now, I'm thrilled with how my skin is holding up. 

Drink up :)