Oncological Aesthetics, the Big Forgotten in Cancer Treatment Protocols

Integrating oncological aesthetics into the treatment of cancer patients marks a before and after in their well-being. This is what one of the professionals at reference in aesthetic oncology in Spain, Vicky Moraleda, creator and director of the Master in Aesthetic Oncology, which provides training to aesthetic professionals and cancer patients from all over Spain. “Ignorance of what aesthetics can do for them is the biggest obstacle we face. Patients and professionals are not aware that including guidelines on skin care before, during and after cancer treatments significantly improve patients’ health and well-being.”

The treatments that cancer patients receive have a negative influence on their physical condition and have a social impact that has repercussions on the patient’s personal image. This physical and mental state has psychological consequences. “The discomfort caused by skin conditions, as well as the image you see in the mirror, is a reflection of your suffering. If we accompany these treatments with skin care protocols, these conditions reduce or even disappear,” says the trainer and specialist in aesthetic oncology.

Oncological aesthetics include skin care from the time the disease is diagnosed, during cancer treatment and when it has ended. The type of cancer, stage, treatment treated are taken into account and always carried out under the supervision of the oncologist. “It is the specialist physician who ultimately authorizes aesthetic treatments,” emphasizes Moraleda.

When cancer patients are diagnosed, their main concern is survival, but it is true that as their treatment progresses, the physical changes they experience are increasingly present in their lives, and this can cause a loss of confidence. “Science has shown that, if these physical changes are minimized, the patient undergoes cancer treatment with greater vigor, regains confidence and improves quality of life,” said Vicky Moraleda, who has treated many patients with oncology aesthetics and witnessed of the before and after of these patients. “Sickness counseling and effective and personalized solutions for skin conditions is a winning combination that offers improvements in your general health.”

When a patient is receiving aesthetic oncology treatments, it is very important to go to qualified professionals, get references and have a prior consultation. For this, it is essential that beauticians are trained in this specialism, as a cancer patient must receive specific care that fits the course of the disease and its treatment.

These specialists must be in contact with the oncology units of the medical centers in order to work in line with the health personnel. “This is one of the great shortcomings of health, the absence of protocols incorporating the figure of the oncological beautician.” Vicky Moraleda’s main claim is to deploy a program at the state level that makes this collaboration possible. “Aesthetic oncology professionals are not allowed access to these units or areas, which prevents us from treating oncology patients in a more comprehensive way, minimizing the conditions caused by treatments on the skin, thus increasing compliance with the medical treatments by the patient, while at the same time improving the patient’s attitude towards the disease”. Currently, few hospitals offer cosmetic cancer treatments to their patients, and most do so through volunteering. Therefore, Moraleda argues that just as there are professionals in fields such as psycho-oncology, the professional profile of the oncology beautician should also be included, “and that nurses or doctors do not have to carry out this work through recommendations of creams and other cosmetic Products.

Extreme dehydration, reactive skin, dry lips, rashes, itching, sensitivity, hair loss, photosensitivity, hyperpigmentation… These are some of the many skin conditions that can occur during cancer treatments. The good news is that they can be treated using aesthetic oncology to improve the health of the patient’s skin. “Using a combination of cosmetically active ingredients and aesthetic care, we ensure that the patient’s skin gradually returns to health, but it is important to initiate the protocol before starting cancer treatment.”

The aim of oncological aesthetics is to restore the physiology of the skin, that is, to relieve, soothe, moisturize, nourish and protect according to skin manifestations during all phases of treatment. One of the most widely accepted therapeutic tools among patients is corrective makeup, which is used to correct blemishes, pigment changes, redesign eyebrows and hide the loss of eyelashes.

PHASE 1. Before starting medical treatment: According to Vicky Moraleda, it’s time to prepare the skin, with comfortable treatments that provide well-being and preventively improve its quality and appearance. Cleansing and moisturizing are techniques performed in the cabin and aimed at taking care of the skin before cancer treatment. If there is loss of eyelashes and eyebrows, micropigmentation or microblading is recommended.

PHASE 2. During treatment: In this phase, conservative treatment and support for the specific treatment of each patient is carried out. Symptoms such as dryness, skin irritations, hair loss and facial hair on the eyebrows and eyelashes begin to appear. “We will be performing gentle in-cabin treatments to hydrate the skin, recommending a broad spectrum photoprotector and therapeutic makeup,” explains the trainer and therapist in aesthetic oncology.

PHASE 3. After medical treatment after discharge: Evaluate the condition of the skin and, when the time comes after the harsh process experienced, rebalance and revitalize the skin with the help of essential vitamins.