Over the past few years, I have fielded many questions from our customers about which are the best products available for their needs. Although we have the same goals, one of which is to moisturize our vaginas and help take away pain associated with vaginal atrophy, the benefits of our products go far beyond the physical. From all the success stories I have heard, there is a common thread that I want to share.

I speak with many breast cancer survivors as they journey toward restoring their health. I often leave work feeling blessed for my well-being, but also feeling sympathy for these women who have been through so much. A few months ago, I received a phone call from a young lady who was looking for a product that could help her dry skin, which was the result of chemotherapy.

She said she has never had such a problem before and she had read that her dry skin could become so inflamed that she could be more susceptible to infections. Being on chemotherapy she was already at high risk for infections. This client went on to explain that her cuticles were so cracked that they bled, and her skin was scaly and itchy. All the normal lotions she had used were now causing her to break out with pimples and sores.

Chemotherapy kills cancer cells and is a much-needed lifesaving treatment, but comes with many unwanted side effects, such as dry skin, brittle nails and hair loss

According to the American Cancer Society, dehydrated skin can be caused by not having enough oil and water in the layers of the skin. Symptoms to look for include red, rough, flaky skin, cracks in the skin, or slight bleeding between the lines of skin covering joints.

Treatment Suggestions for Dry Skin:
• Wash with cool or warm water instead of hot water
• Avoid scrubbing the skin during showers or baths. Gently pat skin dry after bathing.
• Put on moisturizing, alcohol-free lotions twice a day and always after showers or baths.
• Protect your skin from cold and wind.

Some treatment drugs can make the skin more susceptible to sunburn. Use a sunscreen with at least an SPF 30 for added protection.

I also advised my new client to try In the Pink’s Unwind Intimate Massage Oil, which combines Hemp Seed Oil and Avocado Oil with Australian Sandalwood Oil, Bergamot Peel Oil and Frankincense Essential Oil. This blend creates a protein-rich moisturizing oil that is particularly good for dry or aged skin. Hemp Seed Oil has anti-inflammatory, detoxifying and analgesic properties that closely match our own skin lipids. Its Omega 3 and 6 Linoleic acids have been proven to help with skin elasticity, a benefit greatly appreciated by dry atrophied tissue.

Avocado Oil is an anti-inflammatory agent high in antioxidants and includes Vitamins A, D and E which improves skin elasticity and causes it to become suppler. According to Healthline, Avocado Oil helps to calm and heal itchy chapped skin. It replenishes dry skin, shields it from radiation and protects against skin damage.

Bergamot Peel Essential Oil
This oil is often used in skin soaps because it inhibits the growth of germs, viruses, and fungi. This is very important when going through chemotherapy since your immune system is not protecting itself as well as it should. Another benefit of Bergamot Oil is that it can help to minimize scars and other marks.

Sandalwood Essential Oil
Sandalwood makes up the second essential oil in Unwind. Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce redness. This product is safe to rub right over acne to help with inflammation and pain. Sandalwood is great for moisturizing and hydrating dry flaky skin since it contains emollient properties. It helps to soften skin by increasing its ability to retain moisture.

Frankincense Essential Oil
Our last ingredient is Frankincense Essential Oil, which is known as a scar, wound, stretch mark and acne remedy. This oil is also an antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory with the added benefit of preventing signs of aging. My favorite advantage of this essential oil is that it can strengthen the immune system. It does this by killing all the germs and viruses that cause inflammation.

After hearing about our amazing organic oils, the caller decided to give it a try. I always ask for feedback, and a few weeks later I received a phone call. I could hear in her voice that she was excited. She wanted me to know that the product I recommended for her to try worked so well that she had shared it with other chemotherapy patients in her clinic.

She went on to explain that she feels she has very little control over what is happening to her body from the cancer treatments and that she knows that chemotherapy is poison, but she needs it. She continued to explain that just knowing she was putting something on her body that is 100% organic and natural made her feel that she was doing something positive to counteract all the negative.

This is why I love my job and will continue to work with each woman on a one-to-one basis until we find the right product. I have since told her story to new clients who are looking for the same type of support and they too have been very pleased with the outcome of our massage oils.