A customer, Bonnie, wrote me last week asking about our Frankincense & Myrrh lotion that we have in stock for our Christmas in July products that we have available this month. Aquaphor is a common recommendation but we have an effective alternative.
“My dad will begin radiation treatment in the next few weeks, and I was considering purchasing some of the Frank/Myrhh sticks for him to use. From the way they describe it, the skin will feel like he’s got a really bad sunburn, especially further into the treatments.”
When you have a friend or loved one undergo radiation, it’s good to find out what doctors are suggesting to help with the after-effects.
And then see if one of our products can slip in as a natural alternative.
I checked to see what the experts were suggesting for treating the patient’s skin after radiation.
“At the beginning of treatment, before you have any side effects, moisturize the skin after your daily treatment with an ointment such as A&D, Eucerin, Aquaphor, Biafene, or Radiacare.” (source)
The same article went on to suggest petroleum jelly, any gentle cleanser, and lots of moisturizing.
Natural Alternative to Aquaphor and Other Petroleum-based Ointments
What I would do is replace any of those name brand ointments with Beesilk Jr.
It’s soft, easy to apply and it will last much longer in the skin.
Plus, it won’t hurt when it touches the skin.
Let’s compare Aquaphor’s ingredients with Beesilk Jr’s:
Aquaphor is a mix of petroleum jelly, mineral oil, glycerin, and lanolin and acts as an emollient to help soften and smooth the skin and create a protective barrier on the surface to seal in moisture.
Beesilk Jr, on the other hand, uses pure shea butter to do the softening and smoothing, and beeswax to create the protective barrier. It’s done without petroleum jelly or mineral oil. The fact that it only has 3 ingredients is to your benefit.
Going back to Bonnie, she’s wondering about the Frankincense and Myrrh lotion for her dad.
Bonnie is likely asking because she’s heard that Frankincense essential oil is helpful in the treatment of cancer side effects. It can certainly help. In fact, Frankincense is used to reduce inflammation and pain, boost immunity, soothe skin irritations, reduce anxiety, and fight infections.
Using a Frankincense and Myrrh Lotion Stick would be a great addition to her father’s treatment plan.
A tip if you’re using lotion bars or sticks on sensitive skin: warm it up first.
This makes it easy to apply.
What about treating burns from radiation?
Burns that occur after radiation treatments aren’t actual burns. It’s a misnomer. It’s actually the skin peeling faster than it can repair itself, leaving sores, rash or blisters on the skin. It feels like a burn and can itch or cause pain. The skin needs several weeks to heal.
In the meantime, doctors recommend keeping the skin clean, dry, and moisturized as an overall prevention plan for radiation burns.
Doctors also recommended zinc, taken internally or topically. Studies show that this is a safe ingredient to use on your skin. For the treatment of rash from radiation, check out our Simply Soothing Rash Cream.
Summary: When a doctor uses the word “moisturized”, go with a lotion such as Beesilk or Beesilk Jr. for long-lasting relief of pain, itch, and dryness.