My face is already bright red after 6 rad tx. Doc has said only vitamin e or aloe on my face... aloe has alcohol in most formulations and the vitamin e is really sticky and the oil is making my skin breakout. He said no make-up or lotion... and only use camay to wash my face/neck.

Anyone use anything else on their face? I'm going crazy with the red/dry/peeling skin that I am developing. Is my doc just being really conservative about this?

Thanks for your help!

I was told to use lubriderm, or glaxal base (which is what I chose) I actually prefer the lubriderm but it's too light. Glaxal base is thicker but not greasy. I got away with a tan, and peeled like I`d been in florida for a week. But no redness or real pain. But I am olive skinned. These two were recommended by my hospital which was one of the top two cancer centers in North America - im told. It was actually in their hand out. Just don`t use any before treatment. I used to head to treatment then slather it on in the bathroom after. Ask him why he only allows those two things...
take care... hope you are doing okay.

Make sure you are not using anything before your radiation treatments as they may alter how it affects the skin. I wasn't clear if the radiated area is turning red or other places on your face. My neck turned red and was actually bloody towards the end of treatment and I used Donburo soak I bought at the drug store. It is a zinc oxide product only to use when you skin is actually weeping but it cleared the mess up in a day. I found a pure organic aloe with no alcohol that helped the dry peeling skin for the non-radiated areas. I got the aloe at Whole Foods.

On another note I just participated in a study where they "punched" out a few layers of skin to freeze to attempt to do some genome mapping and other research to see if there is a reason some people react so differently to similar doses of radiation. They didn't tell me I may have a little hole punching looking scar maybe forever but I wear it proudly as another "badge of courage" to further research for all survivors of oral cancer. I have participated in about every living cadaver study I can find so someone will gain from the experiences. I got a free breakfast in one post-treatment saliva test! Even after almost 8 years my neck is still pretty dark red all the time but people just think I golf a lot!

Best wishes always.

I used a thick cream called beta-val cream. I was given to my by prescription by my radiation oncologist. I had open oozing sores at the end of tx but do not have any visible scars. I would go to tx then pat (never rub it into your skin) it on and let it soak in. In the evenings I would shower and pat more on to let soak in overnight.

As Uptown mentions, never put it on prior to your rad tx. It can create big problems with the radiation.

I used pure aloe and Aquaphor as instructed by my Drs. I was told to use soap that was mild and had no odors. I healed ok but now my face , on both cheeks and chin is continuing to peel off in real lite patches of skin. Christine sure hit it square with no colognes or anything that might burn during rads. This is the way with the HPO treatments too as these things could create an explosion or fire. Good luck and may you heal fast.

I used Aqueous cream on Martin. I smothered him after his treatment which was usually afternoon and just before bed. And I was very generous with my dosage. We also wrapped his neck in some very fine muslin that the nurse gave us, to avoid clothes rubbing on the skin. I just never put some in the morning as his radiation was always around lunch time. His skin did start to smell awful but after the end of the treatment, while I was helping him in the shower, the neck skin just fell off in big patches and underneath he had baby soft skin (it was a bit scary at first). He never got burnt, but in exchange we had to put up with that awful dead skin smell. But when I saw some of the other patients with painful blistering burnt skin werre going through, I thought it's a small price to pay. The only advice, put plenty of moisturiser, and I mean plenty!

Also ask for some Silvadene (Silver Sulfadiazine), Best burn cream EVER.