Chemo can cause your skin to become fragile and sensitive, so it’s really important that you treat it very carefully during and after your treatment. It can be very hard to know whether your usual products will make things worse or not, so we’ve put together some pointers for picking non-irritant skincare!

Safe is a complex concept; although most skincare products on sale are safe for all types of skin, it can be quite tricky to avoid the sort of ingredients that don’t do sensitive, chemo-affected skin much good. As a basic rule of thumb, it’s worth treating your newly sensitive skin as you would skin that is prone to eczema or rosacea, simplifying your regime and sticking to a very few trusted products that you know won’t flare your skin up.

Look for:

• Soap-free bars or washes
• SLS-free haircare
• Perfume-free moisturisers
• Skincare free from harsh preservatives
• Products that don’t contain a high proportion of alcohol (you can see how high alcohol comes in the ingredients list)
• Products that don’t contain colours or fragrance-maskers

Unfortunately, most conventional skincare sold on the high street does contain these skin-irritant ingredients, especially perfume (fragrance or parfum in the ingredients), so it can be difficult to source products that nourish and soothe chemo-sensitive skin. 

Instead, stick to natural, unscented, hypoallergenic ranges. Because Balmonds products don’t contain perfumes, parabens or harsh preservatives, they’re perfect for people undergoing chemo or radiotherapy. Balmonds skincare nourishes fragile skin with regenerative and nutrient-rich oils, helping it stay healthy and resilient.

If you want to pick a few essentials for yourself or a friend to help your skin through treatment, Skin Salvation is a great moisturiser for sensitive skin, rich, nourishing, and free from synthetics. It’s perfect for moisturising skin that has been affected by chemo and, because it’s oil- not water-based, is much less likely to sting on application. Try our Balmonds Cooling Cream as a light, nourishing hand & body lotion; Balmonds Bath & Body Oil for adding to a relaxing bath or as a lavender-scented massage oil, and Balmonds Rosehip Scar Oil for face, nails, or any areas of scarring.