If you’ve been caring for an aging loved one going through cancer treatment, you are well-versed in all of the side effects of the treatment. You also understand the need to control these side effects to ease your senior’s comfort throughout.

With the winter months here and forced heat coming into many homes, one of the biggest battles just got larger – dry skin. Because dry, itchy, and cracked skin are common side effects of some cancer treatments, you may have found that keeping your loved one’s skin healthy and hydrated has gotten even more difficult as the indoor air has dried out.

Here are some tips that you and your home care assistance team can use to help your loved one be more comfortable in her skin this winter.

Moisturize often

This may be the most obvious tip, but the key is to moisturize your loved one’s skin much more than you normally would. It may not be good enough to simply put on moisturizer in the morning and before bed. It will probably need to be applied throughout the day. Your home care assistance provider can help fill in those needed extra applications. Creams and ointments are better than lotions due to their thicker consistency and moisturizers with menthol may be especially helpful for itchy skin.

Avoid those hot showers/baths

While nothing feels better on a chilly day to an aching body than a hot bath, if your loved one is struggling with dry, cracked skin, a long hot bath or shower is going to make it worse. Turn down the water temperature to keep your loved one’s skin healthier.

Examine your detergent

Scented detergents may smell great but sometimes the chemicals in them can aggravate skin that is especially sensitive due to the treatments your loved one is receiving. Using unscented detergents and soaps that are created for babies is a great way to be kind to your loved one’s epidermis.

Bundle up

When your loved one head’s out – even if she’s only getting in the car with her home care assistance provider to go to the clinic – she should bundle up to protect her skin. Cold windy arctic air can damage skin and aggravate dryness. Protect your loved one’s skin by having her wear a winter coat, hat, scarf that wraps around her face, gloves or mittens, heavy socks, and waterproof shoes or boots. It can be a lot of work to get dressed appropriately for the cold weather but it’s needed.

Drink plenty of fluids

Keeping skin hydrated includes what your loved one puts in her body, not just on her body. She should be aiming for at least nine cups of water a day to keep her skin moisturized.

Buy a humidifier

A humidifier can help add some moisture to the dry, forced heat of your home. You may need several but having one in each room that your loved one spends the most time in (such as the bedroom and living area) will help add some much-needed humidity to the air around her.

Home Care Matters Provides Award-Winning, Trusted Home Care in Bibb, Butts, Crawford, Henry, Houston, Jones, Lamar, Monroe, Spalding, and Upson Counties. Call today: (478)-994-9535.

We serve the towns of Forsyth, Macon, McDonough, Griffin, Jonesboro, Roberta, Barnesville, Gray, Thomaston, and Jackson.

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Valerie Darling

Founder, Owner at Home Care Matters

Valerie was born in Miami, FL and after a few family moves, grew up locally in the Marietta, GA area.Valerie is the oldest of 4 (3 younger brothers).She is married and has one child.Valerie is the Founder, Owner and CEO of Home Care Matters.Valerie’s mom, Dee, is the inspiration and primary driver as the how and why the business was born.Valerie says, “My mom is never far from our thoughts.Mom was an integral part of developing and starting HCM before she passed away.Our goal is to stay true to her memory and continue to honor her with the love, values, and ethics she taught us.”

Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”

Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”

You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).

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