6 Tips for Skin Care During Cancer Treatment

By Evelyn Sprigg
Reading time: 7 min

Cancer changes many things including how skin looks, feels, and reacts. During chemotherapy and radiation, the body’s largest organ often needs the same care and compassion as the rest of you. This isn’t about beauty (although you can feel beautiful during chemo!); it’s about comfort, healing, and feeling human again. Below are tips for skincare during cancer treatment that blend science, lived experience, and self-kindness.

Why does skin become so sensitive during chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy and radiation affect rapidly dividing cells — and skin cells are among the fastest. As treatment progresses, the skin’s natural barrier weakens, leading to dryness, redness, itchiness, and sometimes rashes. Healing slows, and ingredients that never caused irritation before suddenly sting or burn.

Tip: Think of your skin as healing, not broken. Choose formulas rich in soothing oils and butters — shea, cupuaçu, and tamanu are excellent — and avoid exfoliants or acids until the skin’s barrier feels strong again. My general rule of thumb was, if it doesn’t feel good, don’t do it!

How can I manage dryness and that “chemo-dull” look?

Hydration is non-negotiable. Inside and out. Treatments deplete moisture reserves, so this is truly and inside out approach. Begin with water. LOTS of it. Drink throughout the day like it is your job, because its helps so many of your systems do their job effectively. For the outside, use emollients that restore both water and oil balance. Look for ingredients such as beta-glucan, hyaluronic acid, or borage oil — natural humectants that help skin retain hydration.

Daily ritual:

• Mist with a hydrating spray before applying cream or oil.
• Layer a barrier-repair cream immediately after bathing.
• Sleep with a rich balm to reduce overnight transepidermal water loss.

Keeping the skin supple does more than ease tightness — it restores a sense of vitality when everything else feels fragile.

Pro-tip: If it is all just too much, slather condition on and call it a day. 

What’s the best way to care for skin that’s reactive or rash-prone?

When the immune system is overtaxed, even gentle fabrics can trigger reactions. Many cancer patients experience hive-like welts or flushing that seem to appear out of nowhere.

What helped: For me, a consistent antihistamine routine (always under doctor guidance), fragrance-free cleansers, and lightweight emollients did the trick. Aloe, cucumber extract, and oat-based moisturizers calm heat without suffocating pores.

Avoid: scrubs, alcohol-based toners, and strong essential oils until skin stability returns.

Can skincare support emotional healing during treatment?

Yes — and it’s one of the most overlooked parts of recovery. When hair, lashes, and brows fall away (literally), skincare becomes a quiet act of reclamation. Even a simple ritual — applying oil with intention, inhaling a familiar scent — signals to the brain that the body is still your own.

During chemo, I relied on reparative oils to restore glow and comfort. It felt like life returning to my face!. That sense of vitality mattered as much to me as the physical results.

Should I use natural or medical-grade products?

There’s no one-size-fits-all. The goal isn’t “natural” versus “clinical,” but non-irritating and reparative. The best skin care during cancer treatment focuses on:

• pH-balanced cleansers (avoid foaming surfactants)
• Products free of essential oils, alcohol, and parabens
• Hydrating oils with anti-inflammatory properties (acai, tamanu, copaiba)
• Barrier-building actives like niacinamide and panthenol
  
  

Gentle and care are the keys. 

What are small daily practices that make a difference for body and skin?

• Hydrate continuously: Aim for steady water intake, not last-minute chugging before infusions.
• Move gently: Walking and light stretching improve circulation and skin tone.
• Stay warm: Low body temperature can worsen skin dryness and neuropathy.
• Simplify: Fewer products, more care. Layer moisture — don’t overload the skin with actives.
• Rest: Healing skin mirrors a healing body; sleep is its best repair tool.
  
  

These habits don’t just nurture skin — they rebuild trust with your body.

Every cancer journey is unique, but caring for the skin during treatment is universal. It’s a way to connect with the self beyond diagnosis, to choose comfort amid chaos, and to remind the mirror that what’s reflected back is still you — resilient, radiant, and deeply alive.

About JustUs

JustUs Skincare formulates climate-proof products for women experiencing hormonal or health-related skin changes. Founded by two women who believe in performance with purpose, JustUs combines ancient healing botanicals with advanced clinical actives to restore balance, glow, and confidence — even in life’s harshest climates.

FAQs

1. Can I use retinol or retinal during chemo?
It is best to avoid actives if your skin barrier is weak or sensitive. Wait until the skin barrier fully recovers.

2. What ingredients soothe radiation burns?
 Aloe, bacuri, and calendula as well as ancient healing butters can calm and cool without irritation.

3. How long will it take for my skin to recover?
Most people see gradual recovery 6–12 weeks after treatment ends.

4. Are natural oils safe during treatment?
Yes, if pure and fragrance-free. Always patch-test first.

5. Should I change my skincare routine once treatment ends?
Slowly reintroduce exfoliants and actives. Focus on repair first. It will all come back :)