The summer skincare tips — SweetLenox - Patient Advocate & Consultant

Sunscreen, nails, & other summertime essentials

My favorite season is just about to begin, summertime. Known for its sultry heatwaves, raucous sport games, outdoor concert scene and amusement park antics summertime represents the arrival of string of good times in my opinion. Lazy beach days, picnic packing outings and time well spent with family, friends or quietly getting some alone time by the pool, the arrival of summertime makes me very happy.

So as someone who went thru chemotherapy treatment during the spring & crawled out of it just as summer began there are a few key tips I want to share regarding summertime activities and how to get thru, in one piece.

Chemotherapy for breast cancer patients brings on a slew of difficulties. Some of the more common complaints I had were skin sensitivity, taste buds askew, bald head & body sweating profusely, sun screen coverage & exposure, lethargy, hydrating the skin and attempting to keep my nails strong.

So what's a girl to do when she wants to enjoy summer, but has to make a few adjustments?

Well...

Get a sunscreen. Chemotherapy has an odd effect on the skin. We all know it's a case by case scenario. My skin was extra sensitive. I could not wear gold or costume jewelry around my neck and wrists for days at a time. I broke out in hives and my skin really struggled the first round of chemo. Applying sunscreen really helped me reduce damage to my skin on days I felt well enough to hang out. I opted to try to find an organic sunscreen that would not further irritate my skin. Here are a few of the choices that are available this summer. Some include organic bug reppellant & zinc oxide

Take care to cover your head in direct sunlight. I used to cover my head when in the sun with a Yankee baseball cap (NY baby!), rock a floppy sun hat at the beach or slip on a scarf. When things got to hot I shed my hat for a small clean face towel that I kept in my purse. It was great for absorbing the sweat off my baldy and I could just pop the towel in the wash & grab a fresh one. I evened slathered sunscreen on my head on days I chilled under an umbrella.

Atlantic City boardwalk bike riding in the morning. I eventually passed on my Yankee fitted to my son. He looks way better in it than me.

Atlantic City Memorial Day 2015. My head scarf kept me comfy & cozy on a cool day.

Just finished chemo & had a beach day in The Rockaways. My floppy hat & umbrella were essentials.

You can get a really nice head scarf of your choice for free thru the Good Wishes Program. For more information give them a call at 888-778-5998. Or contact by emailing info@goodwishesscarves.org.

At the end of summer 2015. My hair started to grow back.

If you can tolerate it, switch out your normal deodorant & skin care for something a little kinder to your body while going thru chemo, radiation and the weeks recovering. I stopped using my regular brand & I've known some women who just stopped using their own products all together. Same with the skin care. I opted for simple hydrating brands with formulas that left my skin dewy, refreshed, soft and lightly moisterized in the heat. It's an individual choice, especially now with so many options that are on the market. Here are a few of my picks.

Nice, left my underarms soft, & worked well.

This option had a nice smell but I seemed to still perspire a lot. At least I smelled good. Lol!

A different twist to my go to deodorant.

The lightweight serum is good for the face. Made by Ora's the mask you mix with a little water to exfoliate.

I used this just to spay on my face for a little hydration. Not a lot, occasionally & sparingly.

Great for scratches, & health of nail beds

Finally I had the chance to check out a nail salon that uses polishes with less toxic ingredients, a cool, cozy and comfy spot in Brooklyn called pH7. Most of the polishes used by the nail technicians in pH7 are either Big 3 or Big 5 Free. So what does that mean? Well, that means that the polish is free of these chemicals DBP, Formaldehyde & Methleyne Glycol. In addition some manufacturers are producing polish without Formaldehyde Resin/TSFR & Camphor.

Why is this important? Well if your immune system is comprised or you are sensitive then it might be good to look into nail polish that doesn't contain these chemicals. I will say that it was the first time I've been in a nail salon & did not experience the heavy chemical smell that hangs in the air. pH7 was light, roomy with lots of circulation. I definitely noticed the difference.

pH7 had a wonderful zen like quality. I'm used to the bustling neighborhood Harlem nail salons, but I was looking for something different and had a price range that pretty much mirrored what I'm used to. Not only did I get a really good manicure, with a Big 3 free polish (you make the choice from a huge assortment) but I also received a small back massage and a cup of herbal tea, all for about the same price as my regular spot! I left pleased, relaxed and educated.

The brand in the top Scotch is water based.

Here's hoping you all have a cool & relaxing summer.