I have to vent. My mastectomy scars are healing nicely, so I decided to start using a shea butter skin lotion to keep my skin and the scars hydrated. Tonight, I searched online for appropriate lotions for this type of scar care, and found out that the lotion I’m using is considered “bad” because it contains parabens. Every fracking commercial lotion made contains parabens. And if the lotion doesn’t contain parabens, it contains something else “harmful.”
I do my best to eat organic and I’m trying to buy more “natural” cleaning products and cosmetics. But having had cancer once, I don’t want to do anything that will seriously increase my chances of getting cancer again. On the other hand, I hate how fear-driven our society is, and I worry that I’m falling into the trap of fear motivating my actions – specifically what kinds of skin care products I do and don’t buy. I just need a fracking lotion. How frustrating!
Okay, sorry… have to comment again. Your PT will probably tell you this as well, but since that was my job (PT) prior to kids I will tell you that Vit. E is great for scars. You should probably just double check with your breast surgeon to make sure it is okay to massage it in, but it should be. If you can’t find a pure oil, you can pop a hole in the gel caps and squeeze it out. It should help you heel up nicely. Also, Lubriderm makes a shea and cocoa butter formula which may help… I didn’t see any parabens on the label.. but who knows what other things are in it that could be bad for you or the environment?
Comment by Sheri — November 19, 2008 @ 8:59 pm |
Have you considered organic coconut oil? I am not sure how it would work in your situation, but it is great for regular skin massage and moisturizing.
Comment by A.L. — December 9, 2008 @ 8:40 pm |
Why don’t you try pure unadulterated organic Shea butter or Cocoa butter instead of a lotion—
you should be able to find it pure with no other ingredients– and the great thing about the cocoa butter is
that you will smell like chocolate! Which in itself is pretty uplifting— I’m recomending it to my mom for her Mas. scar!
love and light–
Comment by Crystie — June 18, 2009 @ 1:46 pm |
Thanks for your post, Crystie. It’s funny, I’ve been thinking about this post a lot recently, as I continue to search for appropriate bath and beauty products. I ended up finding a paraben free cocoa butter from Crabtree & Evelyn and used it all the way up to the first of my reconstruction surgeries. It works great and does smell great. I need to pick up using it now that I’m totally healed up from the second reconstruction surgery. I also finally found a body wash that does not contain any parabens, EDTA, or SLS — Method!
Thanks again for your post!
Comment by Chopstick — June 25, 2009 @ 7:40 pm |