How I got my glow back after four months of chemo

Thick skin? I’d like one. Thinning skin is one of the biggest signs of aging, thanks to UV, hormones, stress, illness, and of course, actual aging, where cells don’t function as they used to.

After four months of chemotherapy for breast cancer, I can testify that disease destroys the skin. By the end of my treatment, mine was sensitive, wrinkled, gray, and looked as fragile as toilet paper.

Desperate for a solution, I was invited to test a new line called Vital Assist Skincare. It was a daunting task, but after five months of use – spoiler alert – my skin has never looked better.

There’s a lot of talk about chemo, but the drugs used to treat cancer aren’t great for your complexion either. In October, my skin was pretty clear and wrinkle-free. I was taking collagen supplements, using systemic HRT, and had Botox around my eyes.

Since my diagnosis I have stopped HRT on medical advice and have made a personal decision not to take any supplements (except vitamin D). In photos taken earlier this year I look grey, hollow-eyed and generally as if my face has caved in.

There’s a lot of talk about chemo, but hair loss is a common problem, but the drugs used to treat cancer aren’t exactly great for your skin either.

Yes, chemo is amazing, and it cures or prevents cancer from coming back. I am incredibly grateful to be getting older at all. But I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror.

I’m certainly not alone. “We see a lot of patients who are desperate to restore their skin condition after cancer treatment,” says aesthetic specialist Dr Mervyn Patterson of Woodford Medical, who brought Vital Assist Skincare out of the US.

‘Most people find that they age dramatically. When you have chemo, the epidermis is less able to retain moisture, which can cause fine lines. In addition, collagen and elastin, which provide healthy plumpness, are broken down.’

The ovaries are also affected by chemo, which causes women to go into menopause, which is also not good for your skin. In the five years after menopause, you can lose up to 30 percent of your collagen. When I started treatment, I was just in premenopause. Now I am definitely out of it – let’s believe the blood tests.

The new product line is based on a retinoid. This family of ingredients is incredibly effective, but has never worked for me as my skin gets very irritated and dry.

The way it works is that the retinoid goes to the basal layer of the skin, where all the skin cells are made. There it is converted into retinoic acid, the active form of vitamin A, which stimulates the production of new cells. However, often the retinoid also works on cells that go down, causing irritation and flaking of the skin.

Vital Assist Skincare uses what I think of as a stealth retinoid. By encapsulating the retinoid in a “cloak” of protective lipids, it smoothly sinks down to the basal layer, where the skin’s enzymes convert the retinoid into vitamin A so it can get to work.

The company just conducted a clinical study where they measured the skin thickness of 30 people when they started using the products, after 12 weeks, and after 20 weeks. It showed that the skin thickness almost doubled.

There are four products that support the hero product: the Cellular Renewal Cream. There is a Complex C serum that contains peptides, proteins that stimulate collagen production, and something called arbutin, which suppresses pigment formation. There is also a Vitamin Repair Serum to provide all the vitamins that cells need.

The downside is that the Cellular Renewal cream costs £120 for 50ml. But it lasted me almost six months.

I have been diligently using Vital Assist Skincare since mid-February. You could say that my skin has naturally improved because it is no longer being poisoned every week. However, the skin on my body is nowhere near as good as it was before chemo. It is considerably more wrinkled and saggy than before, while the skin on my face is – unbelievably – better.

This series is for anyone who wants to increase their skin thickness, not just people who have had chemo. A surprising compliment I have heard in the past few weeks was, “You look so good.” Honestly, I’ll take it.

vitalassist.nl

My other favorites:

Sight: Balmonds Daily Moisturizing Cream, (from £14.99, balmonds.co.uk). This is perfume and paraben free.

Jennifer Young Defiant Beauty Intensive Serum (£30, beautydespitecancer.com). Uses natural oils to nourish and balance.

Body: Altruist Dry Skin Repair Cream (£6.50, altruistsun.com) Incredibly hydrating and a fantastic price.

Hands: Nurse Caring Hand Cream, (£9.99, nurse.co.ukWonderfully hydrating and beautifully packaged.