Oncological beauty is a new project launched by various organisations and associations to provide assistance and support to women who are battling or have overcome a tumour. Oncological beauty is the new frontier of beauty: a way to help women curate their beauty and image.

For some years now, different support programmes have existed for women fighting cancer, such as reconstructive surgery and psycho-oncology. These are both therapies that aim to help the patient regain confidence in themselves and their image. After beating the disease, many patients find themselves living with a different body which needs specific care. The aim of oncological beauty is to teach women a beauty routine for during and after their treatment. Specialised beauticians and nurses are on hand to recommend the right beauty routine and make-up to use during therapy.

Beauty treatments recommended by experts can help patients to face the disease with renewed spirit: it might seem trivial but looking after your femininity and beauty after chemotherapy is not easy. This is because most cancer treatments leave visible signs on the body, which can cause not only physical, but also psychological suffering such as embarrassment, stress, frustration and distress. Most women who undergo this kind of treatment need to be listened to and understood, so that they can rediscover their image and femininity.

Suggesting an expert who can help choose the right dermocosmetics or most suitable make-up can be a breath of fresh air and positive step for the patient. Specialised nurses or beauticians are professionals who know how to care for a fragile body and which beauty routines to recommend for the patient, taking into account irritations such as rashes and inflammation, perhaps due to an unsuitable massage or dermocosmetic treatment.

The skin changes during and after oncological therapy: it is more sensitive, more delicate and less tolerant. Extended exposure to treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy can lead to cutaneous problems such as xerosis, fibrosis, flaking skin, radiodermatitis and, in the most serious cases, even burns and ulcers, telangiectasias, hyperpigmentation and alopecia. Taking cancer drugs can also affect the skin, patients may suffer from a dull complexion, hyperpigmentation and blotches. During oncological treatments, the dermis cannot guarantee protection from all the external agents that can threaten cutaneous wellbeing, such as the various side effects of the treatment that weaken the hydrolipidic barrier. That is why it is vital to choose effective dermocosmetics and make-up products, with formulas that are suitable for sensitive skin and are free of substances often contained in cosmetics such as parabens, oxybenzone, fragrance and talc.