The effects of cancer treatments can really take their toll – both physically and mentally. While many physical side effects are often discussed, such as nausea or joint pains, there is another side effect that is less often brought up in the doctor’s office. This is the issue of beauty.
In our culture, we often believe that to be concerned about our appearance is vain or superficial. But our face is the most public part of our body. It roots us in our culture, ties us to our family, and is the vehicle through which we express ourselves. Besides humans, apes, elephants, magpies and dolphins are capable of recognizing themselves in a mirror. Only humans express a dislike for their appearance.
Chemotherapy can drastically age people. It can cause premature greying of hair, new onset wrinkles and decreased skin tone and elasticity. It is not uncommon to hear complaints about one’s appearance post cancer treatment in the office. Complaints about hair quality are also common, and many report thinner, sparser hair after chemotherapy.
There are a few natural skin treatments that are widely used, and have been shown to improve the quality of the skin and hair.
Mesotherapy for Skin Rejuvenation
Mesotherapy is a very popular therapy all over Europe. It involves microinjections into the skin with vitamins, amino acids and other substances that naturally help to restore the structure of our skin. Unlike fillers that just fill spaces, or botox that freeze muscles, mesotherapy ingredients are actually absorbed and utilized by the skin to repair it, and reverse the natural aging process.
Mesotherapy can be injected into any area of the skin, with little to no down time. Treatments are booked once weekly for 8 weeks, and then every 2 weeks for another 4 treatments. Mesotherapy can be used to improve sagging skin, brighten skin tone, reduce pigmentation and lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The ingredients in these formulas include:
- hyaluronic acid and collagen
- glutathione
- vitamin C
- B vitamins
- L-carnitine
- plant based antioxidants
Mesotherapy for Hair Regrowth
Alopecia is a common side effect of chemotherapy, and it can take a long time for hair to grow back. When it does, many people report thinner hair, and bald spots. Mesotherapy restimulates follicles to grow hair, and results can be seen in about 3 months.
The recommended treatment protocol is once weekly for 6 weeks, and then every two weeks for 3 months.
The ingredients in the hair formula include:
- biotin
- silicon
- vitamin B5
- gingko extract
- calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium
- hyaluronic acid
Mesotherapy for Scar Reduction
Scars are common concerns following surgeries. It could be a scar from a mole removal to a large scar on the abdomen or breast. Surgical scars can often cause long term discomfort if a large amount of scar tissue is present in the underlying skin. Mesotherapy can help to break down scar tissue to reduce their appearance and lessen discomfort.
The recommended treatment protocol is once weekly injections for 6 weeks, and then every two weeks for 2-3 months, depending on the size of the scar.
The ingredients in the scar reduction formula include:
- procaine
- vitamin B12
- vitamin A
- silica
Facial Acupuncture
Facial acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine, short needles into wrinkles, acne, scars and other areas of the skin. Treatments are booked once weekly for 6 weeks, and then every 2 weeks for another 6 treatments. The treatments are quite painless, and relaxing.
With facial acupuncture, you can expect to see less wrinkles, glowing skin, less dryness, less flakiness, less sagging, improved skin tone and texture, and less visible scars or other marks. Many people will combine facial acupuncture with mesotherapy treatments to improve results.
