Cancer can rob a woman of her energy, appetite and strength but it doesn’t have to take away her self-confidence. To help cancer survivors cope with some of the strenuous and often depressing physical side-effects of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, Look Good...Feel Better offers free beauty workshops at clinics and hospitals nationwide.
For more information, visit www.mycancer.co.za
Beauty tips for women undergoing cancer treatment:
Chemotherapy and radiation can result in very dry, sensitive skin. For women undergoing cancer treatment, it is essential to take extra special care of your skin.
- Apply moisturiser while your skin is damp, giving attention to the areas around your eyes and lips.
- Always wear sunscreen (approved by your doctor), a broad-brimmed hat and long-sleeved cotton shirts and pants.
- Don’t spray perfume directly onto your skin – rather spray it into the air and walk into it.
Hair-loss, including eye-brows and eye-lashes, is a common result of cancer treatment and can be a massive blow to one’s sense of femininity.
- Draw on eyebrows with a light brown or dark brown pencil (depending on your complexion) and soften gently with an ear-bud.
- Use a clean, washed mascara wand to comb moisturiser through your eye-lashes and eye-brows. This helps hydrate the skin, combat unruliness and promote growth.
- Avoid toners with alcohol.
- Have your hair cut short – there are styles to suit everyone and short hair does wonders for eyes and jaw lines.
- Should you lose your hair completely, hold your head up high in brightly coloured scarves, fearlessly funky wigs or go beautifully head-bare.
(Margaret Hewson, July 2010)