Cancer treatment changes your skin.
Cancer treatment saved my life. But chemotherapy and radiotherapy left my skin dry, red, itchy, and reactive.
Skin that has been through treatment needs fewer products, not more, and it needs them to be extremely gentle and regenerative at the same time.
This page explains what happens to skin during treatment, what to avoid, and how to start rebuilding it.
This is not medical advice. If you are in active treatment, talk to your oncology team or dermatologist before starting anything new.
Cancer therapies affect the skin barrier in three ways.
- They reduce the natural lipids that hold moisture in.
- They disturb the skin's microbiome.
- They weaken the skin barrier.
So the skin barrier is less able to defend itself.
Choosing your skincare.
What to avoid.
- Undisclosed perfume blends.
- Synthetic fragrance.
- Alcohol-based toners.
- Sulfates in cleansers.
- Harsh scrubs.
- Strong acids and retinol.
What to look for.
- Simplicity: a short ingredient list that you can read and understand.
- Barrier-repairing lipids: plant oils that replace what your skin lost.
Why waterless skincare works.
- Mild formulation: without water there's no need for preservatives, stabilisers and emulsifiers.
- High lipid content: plant oils are not diluted and sit at full concentration.
What treatment does to your skin.
Skin that has lost its usual defences reacts to things it used to tolerate. Products that felt fine before treatment can now sting, itch or bring on a rash.
Carapa guianensis
Andiroba
Traditionally used by Amazonian indigenous communities on wounds and inflammation. Rich in limonoids. Calms skin that has become quick to react, and comforts irritation without clogging pores.
Copaifera officinalis
Copaiba
Tapped from the trunk of the tree, which is left standing and unharmed. Its active, beta-caryophyllene, settles redness and irritation, and unlike many anti-inflammatory ingredients it doesn't sting.
Theobroma grandiflorum
Cupuaçu
From a close relative of the cacao tree. Holds up to 440% of its own weight in water, more than shea butter. Puts moisture back into skin, and its phytosterols help rebuild the structure that keeps it there.
Astrocaryum vulgare
Tucumã
Pressed from the bright orange fruit pulp. High in oleic acid, which keeps skin supple, and one of the richest plant sources of beta-carotene, plus vitamin E. Both protect skin while it repairs.
Astrocaryum murumuru
Murumuru
From the seeds of the murumuru palm. High in lauric acid, which is naturally antimicrobial. Melts at skin temperature and leaves a soft layer that holds moisture in without blocking pores.
Pentaclethra macroloba
Pracaxi
Cold-pressed from the seeds. Unusually high in behenic acid, rarely found in plants at this level. For skin that is thin and porous. It fills the gaps in the skin's own lipid layer, so irritants stay out.
These plants grow in the most biodiverse ecosystem on earth, under constant heat, humidity and UV. That pressure produces high concentrations of active compounds, like triterpenes, fatty acids, phytosterols.
Where to start.
Two products form the base: the Face Wash and the Face Oil. Everything else follows what your skin asks for.
For the body, the Body Balm with Cupuaçu, Murumuru and Andiroba.
If you would rather try before committing, the Mini Set contains the Face Wash, Face Oil and Exfoliating Mask in travel sizes.
Why Peruda exists.
I built Peruda after stage 3 cancer. Recovery was long, and my skin was part of it. The products exist because what I needed did not exist.
Peruda formulations are dermatologically approved for sensitive skin, NATRUE natural cosmetic certified, and used by therapists and practitioners in Switzerland.
Support beyond skincare.
Skin is one part of recovery. We also keep a list of practitioners who work with people during and after cancer treatment — naturopathy, physiotherapy, cranio sacral therapy, cancer coaching, and much more.
Last updated: 19 Jul 2026
