It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month and an ideal time to salute the strong, beautiful and courageous women who are either battling or have survived the vicious disease. But in the course of the battle, a woman’s beauty regimen and personal appearance may become casualties of that battle, especially as it relates to skin changes and hair loss. But sometimes looking better can lead to feeling better, so beauty management can be a a boon both emotionally and physically.
Supportive family and friends may want to help stave off some of the fall out by encouraging breast cancer patients and survivors to indulge themselves and treat them to a day at the spa or a beauty makeover to feel beautiful both inside and out.
At The Transformation 2011: A Day of Beauty event in Atlanta recently, women shared their personal techniques for maintaining while battling breast cancer.
Skin: Hydrate daily. Drink plenty of water and moisturize your body including your lips. Products like Cetaphil and Eucerin are gentle enough for the skin.
Using bronzer and blush can give your skin a healthy glow again. Try NARS duo compact with “Orgasm” blush and “Laguna” bronzer.
Nails: Play with pretty nail polish colors. Chemo drugs such as Adriamycin and Cytoxin will turn your nails black, so go for colors like OPI’s deep purple hue called Lincoln Park After Dark.
Dental: It’s important to floss your teeth and see your dentist for regular dental care. Post chemo and radiation can sometimes cause xerostomia (dry mouth) and gum recession, which can result in increased cavities. Be sure to brush twice a day and chew sugar free gum with xylitol. Speak to your dentist about products like Biotene, Periomed, Prevention Oncology Rinses, and Colgate’s Orabase.
Hair Loss:
Latonya Sauderson, founder and co-owner of The Weave Shop hair salon suggests:
When looking for a wig, visit the wig shop while you still have your hair. Talk to an experienced sales person who can see what your hair and style look like, so they can match you with the best wig.
Look for a wig with a “natural scalp,” which is a piece sewn in the front of the wig that gives off a more natural look.
If you don’t care for wigs or lacefronts, you can always sport a soft scarf or head wrap with a pretty pattern. Make it known to your hair stylist that you would like conditioning treatments.
You can have a custom wig made to alleviate strain on your hair depending on the stage of the illness. You can still take the custom wig on and off to give room to condition the scalp and get steam treatments to help strengthen the hair.
-The Weave Shop will offer free makeovers and discount pricing for cancer survivors during the month of October. Email Latonya directly at [email protected] and she will take care of you personally. ( applies to Lawrenceville, Buckhead, and Decatur locations).
For eyebrow hair loss, try Anastasia’s Eyebrow kit which includes everything you need to draw in your new brows. The kit retails at $75 and comes with brow stencils, powder, highlighter, brush, cooling eye brightener, mascara, tweezers, brow gel, and a DVD and instruction guide.
Weight Loss: Get clearance from your doctor to exercise. If you are taking steroids to counter the side effects of chemo drugs, don’t be surprised if you find yourself a little plumper.
Attend “Look Good, Feel Better,” a seminar held by the American Cancer Society free of charge for cancer patients. They give $200-$400 worth of brand name cosmetics to each attendee, along with free wig and makeup tips.
Tips to stay beautiful and positive emotionally
Pray, meditate, do yoga, and walk.
Whenever you are feeling down, start to count your blessings and think about all of the things you are thankful for.
Meet and interact with other cancer patients and survivors and make friends at the infusion center.
Remember that life is worth every minute. Keep a positive attitude, erase any negativity out of your life, and never loose hope.
