I am a bit worried about Aloe Vera gel from Holland and Barrett as it contains sodium hydroxide (quick lime), so not at all sure about burning. Hospital says use nothing except simple soap, which I have ignored in favour of Aveeno shower oil as it seem to be more gentle.
Hi Kit
All I can say is that I used the 99.9% AV from H&B throughout 25 rads with no ill effects.
I showered with simple shower gel, then slapped on E45, used AV after rads before I got dressed and then used either through the day - sometimes I mixed them.
Dx
I was told the 99% gel was OK by the unit, so I slapped it on immediately I’d finished being zapped (as I dressed) and then again during the remainder of the day/evening. I also used copious quantities of a moisturiser for babies, which cooled too (I used Arbonne stuff and it was great). They said anything for babies would be OK… I didn’t use soap at all - I used the acqueous cream for washing. All in all, no particular problems. It goes brown… the skin itches sometimes (take over the counter piriton or equivalent)… after treatment has finished the skin peels as if you’ve got sunburn, but I think that’s all quite normal and was nothing much to cope with after chemo… I think I put stuff on at least 4 times a day though… good luck. Jane
I have done exactly the same as the previous ladies and have had no after effects, although the hospital only recommended aqueous cream. Im one week post rads and no peeling yet.
Jayne x
I used Aloe Vera Gel from H&B and was fine. Rads recommend aqueous cream but I am allergic to it, along with E45 so asked if I could use aloe. They said as long as it was the 99% one it would be fine. It was!
Liz
I always brought anything I was thinking of trying in to the unit so they could look at the list of ingredients and tell me if there was anything in them that I must avoid.
Anything with metallic salts in should be avoided (which is why anti-perspirants are advised against) and the perfumes in some products can cause irritation, so even baby stuff needs to be checked and given the ok by your radiology experts.
I used loads of H&B AV gel and found it really, really soothing. I’m still using it whenever I have dry skin anywhere, and it’s very cooling. Lovely stuff.
you’re absolutely right Choccie - I took anything I was thinking of using to the pre-rads planning meeting and got it cleared by them… and they were OK with the AV gel and the baby-body-lotion (though they don’t officially recommend anything other than acqueous cream). They’re the experts… Hope it all goes well, Jane
Ditto what all the other ladies have said, I used H&B AV gel 99.9% right the way through my rads onc said it was fine to use, I didn’t use the aqueous cream just used the aloe gel, went to see my BCN yesterday to be fitted for my prothesis and she had a look at my mx/rads site she said it looked really good and she seemed surprised, so think the aloe gel is good and will continue to use it. If you don’t want to use the gel buy an Aloe plant cut a leaf off at the stem slit it down the side and open it like a book then place that on the affected area, I also did this about once a week. I threw out all of my beauty products that contained nasties like parabens/SLS/aluminium etc and now use Neal’s Yard or Faith in Nature products I’m loving the aloe/ylangylang shower/bath stuff at the moment and its bliss, I love it.
Good luck with your treatment.
Love and light
sarahlouise xx
I too only used 99.9% Aloe Vera Gel from H&B through Rads and lots of it (still using it now), and only used the acqueous cream as a washing agent. The Rads dept only recommended use of Acqueous cream and I took the AV in and they said it was ok for me to use as I had read the AC thinned the skin somewhere.
I had no skin problems apart from some minor itching and sunburn and a bit of peeling - which you can’t avoid whatever you use I don’t think.