I finished chemotherapy for Breast Cancer earlier this year and during the time I was undergoing the treatment, my skin was affected so much more than I thought. I did a lot of research on how to care for your skin after Chemotherapy. I’ve been found ways that worked for me.
Affiliate links below.
This post is in collaboration with MooGoo Skin Care.
I was surprised at how much my skin changed during the six months of undergoing AC chemotherapy and then Taxol. I’ve always had such oily skin and the treatment completely dried it out. That was actually quite a nice side effect for a while! Although side effects of radiation for breast cancer or from chemo being good is rare of course. When chemo finished, the skin on both my face and body was left too dry and dull.
The effects of chemo took some time to leave my body. During that time, I used some very gentle products and techniques to restore moisture to my skin. I wanted to look on the outside as good as I felt on the inside.
I talk more about the long term side effects of chemotherapy in this post.
Here are some of the skin issues I dealt with during my treatment. Plus some lovely MooGoo products that help to address them.
Related: Download my Chemo Reminder Stickers here.
How to care for your skin after Chemotherapy
Dry Skin & Eczema
During treatment, I started getting eczema and I’d only ever experienced this once in my last pregnancy. Thankfully it wasn’t near my chemo port. I didn’t want to use any steroid creams but received a sample of MooGoo Eczema & Psoriasis Cream in one of my BellaBaby boxes and tried it out.
It’s made from natural and gentle ingredients and is recommended for the whole family to use so I felt confident that it would be gentle on my skin. I applied it to the patch of eczema on my inner elbow once a day for a week and after a couple of days, the eczema disappeared. It came back once since then, I think as my hormones were ‘adjusting’ so I’ve bought a full sized tube to use and it’s now gone. My son also gets eczema behind his knees and we use this on him too – it’s so gentle.
MooGoo’s Skin Milk Udder Cream is also well known to assist patients during treatment to keep skin healthy and hydrated and their Milk Wash is gentle for the face and body, particularly for sensitive or irritated skin. My skin was so sensitive during treatment and I love that this is made from natural cleansers.
Dry Scalp
My hair has always been as oily as my skin and since I lost my hair to chemo, I realised this was because my scalp was oily. Another chemotherapy side effect was that my scalp got dry and as my hair grew back, I started getting some dandruff – for the first time in my life!
As happy as I was to have hair again, I started to wash it less often to reduce drying out my scalp and let the natural oils come through. Although I don’t like the look of oily hair, I much prefer it to having dandruff and a dry scalp so this is working well.
Related: Caring for Your Hair During Chemotherapy
MooGoo’s Shampoo and Conditioner are both gentle products that actually address the cause of dandruff as well as removing it gently during washing.
Sun Exposure
As well as wanting to limit my sun exposure to reduce the risk of skin cancer, I was advised by my medical team that during chemo and radiation, my skin would be super sensitive.
I was always pretty good at remembering to apply SPF before I went out but I do it religiously every day now and will forever. Now I just do not want to risk any chance of sunburn.
I use an SPF on my face and a really moisturising one on my body which means as well as protecting me from the sun, I’m also rehydrating my dry skin too.
MooGoo’s Natural Suncreen SPF 40 is made with natural ingredients (Zine Oxide) which protects skin from the sun without breaking down.
Related: MooGoo Sunscreen Review + Information
Dry Lips & Mouth
One of the worst chemo side effects for me was the dry mouth and mouth sores. I always had lip balm on hand to reapply throughout the day to keep my lips soft. It didn’t seem to matter how much water I drank, I always had a dry mouth until treatment finished.
My skin changed so many times during chemotherapy and radiation and now 3 months on from finishing, it’s almost back to normal.
If you’re about to undergo treatment yourself, expect some changes may happen although it’s very different for everyone. Treat your skin gently and remember that you may have to readjust your skincare regime a few times until it’s back to normal again.
Where to buy
You can find out more about MooGoo’s range of skincare here. They are an Australian company with a wide range of natural and gentle products. These are made with effective ingredients and no gimmicks.
The range offers solutions to many different skin issues, as well as eczema and dry skin and they’re made from natural plant oils and extracts. I love that they list every ingredient in each of their products on their website.
The MooGoo Oncology Care Pack
I love the MooGoo Oncology Care Pack which includes some gorgeous products that help hydrate protect, soothe and care for skin during and after chemo or radiotherapy for breast cancer or other cancers. Plus a gorgeous pair or cosy socks to help keep feet warm as a chemotherapy or radiation side effect can also be cold hands and feet.
The pack, at $40, includes:
- Skin Milk Udder MooGoo Cream – a lightweight moisturiser
- Fresh Cream Deodorant – a natural deodorant preventing odour causing bacteria
- Milk Wash – for the face and body
- Cow Lick Lip Balm – to condition dry lips
Having undergone treatment myself, this pack is a lovely oncology care pack would be such a thoughtful gift for anyone about to start treatment or in need of a treat.
I hope my chemotherapy skin care tips have been helpful to you!
Read next:
- An Honest Account of Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer – I Share Everything
- Looking after your Skin during Chemotherapy
- DermaScar Review: for scar removal
- 10 Beauty Products for Busy Mums
- Olive Skin Care Review
- Mirenesse Skin Care and Make Up Review
- Green People Age Defy Review
- I have Breast Cancer
- My Triple Negative Breast Cancer diagnosis and treatment
- My First Chemotherapy Treatment
- One year after my Breast Cancer diagnosis
- A Gift Idea for Cancer Patients
- 5 Gift Ideas for Cancer Patients
- Unexpected Side Effects of Chemotherapy
- Priceline Beauty Prescription Live 2017
- River Veda Review
PIN THIS POST!
What are your tips on how to care for your skin after chemotherapy?
Disclosure: this post on how to care for your skin after chemotherapy contains affiliate links meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I may get a small commission. This doesn’t affect the price you pay.
I swear by the Moo Goo Shampoo and Conditioner. My mum recommended it to me for my dry flaky scalp and it worked a treat. Yet another case of mother knows best!
I love their eczema cream, it’s the only thing that works on my little Miss.
Eczema & Psoriasis Cream AKA Irritable Skin Balm
Keeps skin moist and Eczema calm
The Moogoo Fresh Cream Deodorant.
I like having the peace of mind that I’m using a natural product that is good for my body.
Shea Sorbet Butter Balm,
It makes my dry skin calm.
Such a rich cream,
Goes on a dream.
Lip Balm — my lips are always dry, like always and MooGoo is the only brand that seems to make them soft and glossy.
The milk wash is amazing! Leaves your skin feeling refreshed!
The MooGoo Natural Suncreen SPF 40 – because it is made with natural ingredients it is perfect for my senstitive skin so I don’t have to look like a beetroot (lol)! Thanks Mim!
I like the improvement of my lips using Cow Lick Lip Balm
I like their sunscreen, because it’s easy to apply and gives me the protection I require. I have had 2skin cancers removed on my nose. One rather large one and had to have a skin graft. My plastic surgeon told me I have to use sunscreen every day now for the rest of my life as a preventitive and always cover up. To who ever reads this please always wear sunscreen and cover up. Don’t be complacent.
My daughter has severe eczema and has just started using MooGoo Eczema & Psoriasis Cream Im very impressed with it as its very gentle and and is easing her symptoms without drying out her skin, unlike the steroids prescribed by her dermatologist .
Eczema and Psoriasis Cream brings relief to all of us who suffer from eczema
Skin Milk Udder Cream. I am always on the look out for new moisturiser, so how can I pass this one up when it udder’ly cracks me up!!
My favourite product is the MooGoo scalp cream for cradle cap, as it’s so easy to use and so effective, which is essential for newborns. Saves the mess of olive oil too!
My favourite MooGoo product, that I would love to try is the Protein Shot Leave-In Conditioner because my curly hair is so coarse, wild and dry.
Coverup Butter Cup. Amazing sunscreen without all the nasty chemicals that others contain. I feel safe putting it on my kids. My Summer essential.
Definitely the eczema and psoriasis cream it sounds amazing. I don’t want harsh stuff especially as my daughters skin is so sensitive so I want something we can both use. Best way to get her to do something is to be doing it myself so it needs to work on my old skin and her young skin.
Fresh Cream Deodorant as I have a nightmare finding deodorants that work and this amazing product does just that
the full cream moisturiser as it really helps my dry skin
i love the sunscreen – it will be very useful for our whole family.
Eczema and Psoriasis Cream as my boys get bad eczema and I have tried so many things to help them. I would love to try some moogoo to try and at least mim-inise their itch and pain.
The Eczema & Psoriasis Cream with Marshmallow, Elderberry and more is my favourite as it sounds amazing, especially good for my son.
I like the Natural Suncreen because it’s made with all natural ingredients and is great for sensitive skin
I was introduced to MooGoo Eczema & Psoriasis Cream from the chemist today. I was instantly drawn to this product after testing it on my inflamed eczema-prone skin. Instant relief, pleasant smell and non-steroidal ingredients. This is definitely my FAVOURITE product so far, would love to try other products by MooGoo though!!!
Suffering from dry skin, Shea Sorbet Butter Balm by Moogoo sounds just perfect for me. I LOVE lime Sorbet and im excited that my skin could smell so yummy and get softer and smoother
MooGoo’s Natural Sunscreen SPF 40 is perfect for our hot Queensland summer and will protect our whole family naturally.
The Eczema moogoo cream is a SAVIOUR. Our son was born with severe eczema (his skin peeled off after birth and wept). I cannot tell you the relief we felt when we found Moogoo. Effective and natural. Just the thing you want for your precious baby.
Being pale skinned and covered in freckles it’s hard to find a good sunscreen that isn’t greasy but still gives good coverage – the Natural Sunscreen SPF 40 looks like the perfect companion for me this Summer!
I love the versatility of the milk wash. Being natural and a no soap formula it is not only safe enough for the whole family but it is cleanser I can use from head to toe.
I love the shampoo and conditioner as they make my hair feel wonderfully refreshed. No harsh chemicals makes it a plus in our house.
The sunscreen. My bub has sensitive skin and using this natural product is perfect for him.
Moo Goo deodorant has changed my life, I’ve bought some for all my friends and family to try this Christmas. I haven’t sampled any of their other products yet but I’ve been using the deodorant since March, it’s the only natural aluminium free deodorant I’ve found in all my searching that works well and smells great. Everyone needs to try it!
Natural sunscreen to protect my fair, sensitive skin in the sun!
The Cow Lick Lip Balm (try saying that after a few drinks) an Australian summer is tough on the lips and if they look and feel good then I know I do too. Plus I just love that name, it conjures up all sorts of funny images.
The milk wash! As someone who suffers from eczema and dry skin, I need a wash that is soothing, gentle and hydrating. It will keep my skin soft and clean without causing any irritation
Love to try the Fresh Cream Deodorant, love using natural deodorants.
The eczema cream is wonderful. I use it on my son and has had no more flare ups for 3 months.
My both kids have sensitive skin and my husband has diabetes , so MooGoo skincare products have been used in my family for years. MooGoo Milk Wash and MooGoo Full Cream work well and protect dry and itch skin conditions, just a little 50 cents size is enough to cover whole body. It is truly an amazing skincare brand. It’s an amazing prize for everyone. Thank you.
Definitely, decidedly the MOOGOO ONCOLOGY CARE pack – one for me ( midway through my Taxol chemo.) and one for a very supportive friend on a similar journey… a couple of treatments ahead of me with warnings of things to come and products to have on hand. To date I’ve avoided dastardly inhibiting side effects but Oh my skin is so, so dry. My voice has become husky, but sadly not really sexy, and my lips parched. MOOGOO magic please!
I love the sound of all the products, especially the Skin Milk Udder Cream. I’d love to win for my Dad who is currently undergoing chemo, his skin is soooo dry and needs some TLC. Plus being an ex-dairy farmer, he’d get a kick out of the whole cow-themed range :)
My favorite is the eczema and psoriasis cream. For years I’ve been trying to find a product that would clear me of my terrible skin condition and this seems to be doing a fantastic job so far :)
the shampoo and conditioner is awesome makes my hair feel so clean and fresh
Milk Wash is our favourite! It’s loved by everyone. Hubby likes it because it doesn’t have a perfume smell. Mr 3.5yo likes it because I make bubbles in my hand. And I like it because I know it’s natural and gentle. Win win winner, yummy dinner!
Natural Anti-Ageing Face cream as I need it and would love to try it
I haven’t tried MooGoo products, but the Udder Cream sounds amazing and the name sounds fun as well, hehe!
The shampoo and conditioner, I find it leaves my hair clean and soft, without the use of harsh chemicals. Great for my whole family to use
Cow Lick Lip Balm, always need a great lip balm on hand :)
Definitely the natural sunblock. Sunblock is one of those products where I never feel like I know what’s in it, what’s an active ingredient or what’s a nasty, so it’s great to one I can just feel confident with!
The Cow Lick Lip Balm because I never leave home without lip balm, and I love that I can tell everyone I’m wearing cow kisses on my lips
The eczema cream worked wonders on my poor rashy babies skin when they were little, and I still use it today, it smells so nice.
I love the shampoo and conditioner.
The deodarant as it seems to be the only one that works for me
I love the fresh cream deodorant;
the supermarket deodorants don’t seem
to do the job,
but MooGoo’s does!
I have been using their shampoo and conditioner for years, the shampoo keeps my scalp beautifully moisturised and the psoriasis away! If I go away and use a different brand, within a week my scalp is a mess, very itchy and flakes everywhere – I have learned my lesson and only use MooGoo! One very happy customer who would love to try their deodorant and moisturiser!
Milk Wash sounds fantastic. Would love to make my skin great again
I love their deodorant, its the only aluminium free deodorant that I’ve found that works!
I’m a sucker for a good lip balm, especially this time of year so would love to try the Cow Lick Lip Balm….and how awesome is that name too hahaha