Beauty Workshop with Young People with Cancer

Skincare in your teens can be complex with so many factors affecting the skin, with hormones playing a big part. Add to that the impacts of chemo or radio therapies which can cause soreness, dryness and itching, and a specific skincare routine becomes even more essential.

A group of young people joined us for a VIP skincare day with skincare experts at Skintech.

Our friends at Skintech are registered nurses and aesthetic practitioners, and they have a wealth of knowledge about the impacts of cancer treatment on skin. They welcomed our beneficiaries to their clinic in Hertfordshire.

The day started with a masterclass demonstration which was followed by individual consultations, and tailored skincare regimes for each young person.

We had a lovely, relaxing day and everyone received a gift box from The Green People whose organic sensitive skincare products hydrate, protect soothe and reduce irritation, so are perfect for the young people to put in to proactive everything they learned.

As well as learning how to care for their skin during and after treatment, the young people had the chance to socialise and in a safe space, with no judgement, talk about what they’re experiencing, with others who genuinely understand.

To everyone who has supported our project, our sincere thanks.

Treatment for cancer, including chemotherapy and targeted therapies, can cause a patient’s skin to become sensitive, flaky, dry, sore, and itchy.  The skin can become red and peel. And just like skin, nails can really suffer during chemo too.

Our relaxing hand massage therapy session for young people fighting cancer is designed to introduce beneficiaries to massage as a form of self-care, to teach them techniques that they can recreate whenever they need.

Some studies show that massage can relax your mind and body, relieve tension, and enhance mood.  Massage can also improve sleep and enhance emotional well-being.

Further studies show that it can be used to counter some of the side effects of treatment, reduce nausea, and pain and improve circulation.

Overall, massage can provide a sense of calm.

As part of our Summer Residential Stay, the young people were given some specially formulated hand cream, designed for cancer patients with their specific skincare needs in mind, a manicure kit, and for those who wanted some colourful nail varnish, again with no harsh chemicals.

At the session, they were met by a team of professional skin care experts who guided them step by step through the massage techniques, talking through the steps and the benefits. Throughout the session the young people had time to chat and chill. They were treated to a manicure and for those that wanted a little colour taught how to apply nail colour just like the professionals!

In these self-care type sessions, the young people offer support to each other on a whole range of physical, mental, and emotional issues.  We hear them telling each other the importance of self-care, encouraging each other to create and maintain healthy relationships with themselves, and offering suggestions for simple things they can do to look after themselves, from regular sleep and a healthy diet through to having a warm bath and reading a book or listening to music. It is always heart-warming and shows how very special this little Community you have helped us to create is.

Not only do the young people now have a set of skills to help them relax, but they also have a group of peers who can offer support and understanding whenever they need, to our funders this quarter, a very special thank you.