Skin cancer - skin care question

[Petrichery]

Hi
I've lurked on MN for years but never had the nerve to join until now, but it occured to me that the collective wisdom here might be able to find me answers to some (totally unimportant) questions i have about skin care.

I have had several basal-cell carcinomas on my face (basically small patches of skin cancer that don't spread like melanomas, so aren't immediately life threatening, but do have to be operated on and removed).

I'm due to have another op for it when i rise to the top of the local extemely long waiting list, and given my history it will probably be ongoing. I'm beginning to look like a patchwork doll with all the scars and stitches, although funnily this doesn't bother me too much.

My question is about skincare - obviously i have to use sunblock every day, and have researched and found really good (expensive) non-greasy ones that work. But when i'm not going outside, or have an evening bath, i just want to use a normal moisturiser afterwards not sunblock. I have dry skin. All the ones around these days say things like "rejuvinating" or "renews cells". I have cells that are renewing themselves a bit too enthusiastically all ready so i probably don't want that.

I can't ask any consultants that i see because they are all Very Busy And Important People (TM) and my gp has no idea. Does anyone here with some medical (or personal) experience know what i should or shouldn't use?

[retainertrainer]

I'm no expert but I don't imagine for a second that any of those creams could accelerate the growth of a bcc,it's all guff and nonsense which sounds good but doesn't actually do what it says on the tin. Just pick yourself a good quality moisturiser. I use Aldi or Superdrug on brands so probably not the suggestion you're after-I'm sure someone else can recommend something lovely.

Do you mind me asking which suncreams you use? I had a bcc removed from my back last year.

[Ollivander84]

How about a really plain one like Avene? I use the one called optimale hydrance and it's just a moisturiser, no anti ageing stuff
Or face theory (online) have lots and list all the ingredients and what they do etc
I think EGF is the only thing you would really need to avoid and I probably wouldn't use anything with retinol either

[Hulder]

Nivea blue pot. Seriously moisturising. I have oily skin so it doesn't work for me except as an overnight but v good and costs tuppence.

Bigger budget - Avene.

[Petrichery]

Thank you all - sounds like Avene and Nivea are both going on the list.

I think you're right that i need to stop thinking 'luxury' treats and think good basic moisuriser.

@retainertrainer - i usually use La Roche Posay Anthelios XL or Eucerin (both mattifying/sun sensitive for least shiny-ness) or Cain & Austin when i can afford it.

But these expensive ones are just for my face where appearance matters - for body i just use the kids spray on 50+

[retainertrainer]

Thank you,I'll look into those.

[Ollivander84]

Avene actually feels quite luxury to me, I would think French pharmacy as opposed to anti ageing if that makes sense? Their moisturisers are usually quite plain so you could looked at la Roche posay and Vichy too and see which you preferred

[WipsGlitter]

petri did your dermatologist recommend those? I have a bcc being treated with Aldara but she said I needed to start wearing sunscreen on my arms etc, but I'm looking for a non greasy one.

[Djangor]

Suggest you look at this - Macmillan Cancer Suppport - its a discussion group thread for people with skin cancer

community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/skin-cancer/f/146/t/121072

[Hulder]

If you already like Eucerin, you will prob like their moisturisers too.

[Petrichery]

@Wips no, i'm afraid not. I've never actually seen a dermatologist (hence my asking random questions here) just the consultant surgeons who specialise in maxio-facial surgery. Understandibly they have no expertise in sunscreens. My bccs have not responded to cream treatment (efudex i think?) prescribed by the gp, so now we just go straight to surgery.

I was just told to wear as high a factor as possible ALL the time from now on. I did my own reaearch to find non-greasy ones (including reading the full comments sections to Sali Hughes columns on sunblock in the Guardian, and which had a lot of useful personal anecdotes about how they all behave, if that helps).

[TheSpottedZebra]

Moisturisers can't actually speed up the formation of skin cells - if they did anything like that, they'd have to be sold/regulated as medicines.

I think the renewing ones would tend to have a gentle acid in them, that would slough off the very very uppermost dead skin cells, so newer looking skin is revealed. Rejuvenating is a bit of a weasel word, sounds good but doesn't really mean much.

[Petrichery]

@djangor thank you! I hadn't seen that before.

@Hulder - good idea. I haven't seen their full range and hadn't realised they did moisturisers too.

[Petrichery]

@Spottedzabra - yes, slightly suspected that too but tbh am just wary of anything that could even maybe make the situation worse. Totally unscientifically-supported paranoia at its best I think getting something luxurious from Avene that mentions NONE of these terms would be best for me, as suggested above.

[Hulder]

My holy grail sunblock is Heliocare - more expensive but it was wonderful.

[Floisme]

Not a medic but I'm prone to moles so keep a careful watch on my skin. I agree with Zebra that 'rejuvenating' is marketingese bollocks. However I avoid anything retinol based and also exfoliating acids as they carry a warning about increased sun sensitivity, which I'm sure is the last thing you need.

[KatyS36]

Hello. Caudalie do a lovely skin recovery cream for dry to very dry skin - red tube. It's about 24 pounds tube and lasts ages. I think its the best of the French pharmacy. No cell renewal promises / lies depending on your viewpoint.
Katy