October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and as a master aesthetician who has worked alongside oncologists and plastic surgeons for nearly two decades, I want to address something that comes up in my practice regularly: the questions women have — and often don't ask — about their skincare during and after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Skincare During Breast Cancer Treatment
If you are currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, your skin needs a fundamentally different approach. Chemotherapy and radiation dramatically increase skin sensitivity, reduce the skin's ability to repair itself, and compromise the barrier in ways that make most active ingredients — including retinol, vitamin C, AHAs, and even some fragrances — potentially irritating or contraindicated. During active treatment, the priority is barrier support and gentle hydration exclusively. A gentle fragrance-free cleanser, a ceramide-rich moisturizer, and a mineral SPF are typically all that's appropriate. Always consult your oncologist before introducing or maintaining any active skincare ingredients during treatment.
After Treatment: Rebuilding Your Skin
Post-treatment skin has often experienced significant damage — from the treatment itself, from hormonal changes that alter skin texture and moisture, and sometimes from surgical recovery. Rebuilding at this stage requires a slow, barrier-first approach. The Microbiome Balance + Defense Serum is often the first product I recommend: niacinamide and hyaluronic acid in a formula gentle enough for the most compromised skin, effective enough to meaningfully rebuild barrier function.
Growth factors — particularly plant-based or human growth factor serums like the Growth Factor Peptide Fusion — are appropriate for most post-treatment clients once the acute healing phase is complete and your oncologist has cleared you for active skincare. They support the skin's own regenerative processes without the hormonal concerns associated with certain other actives.
On Retinoids and Hormonal Concerns
Retinol is not estrogenic — it does not mimic or disrupt estrogen in the way that some other ingredients (like certain parabens or phthalates) have been studied for. Topical retinoids have been used safely by millions of women, including those with hormone-sensitive cancers, though you should always confirm with your oncologist for your specific situation. What I always encourage my clients to do regardless of health status: choose fragrance-free, clean formulations, minimize unnecessary synthetic additives, and when in doubt, simplify.
Supporting Research and Awareness
This October, SkinHealth Studios is proud to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Take care of your skin. Take care of your health. And please — do your screenings.
Questions about what's right for your skin situation? Book a consultation — personalized guidance is always included.