Oncology-Safe Facials
Oncology-safe
skin care.
Gentle, medically appropriate facial care for skin changed by cancer treatment — during chemotherapy and radiation, and through recovery afterward.
Skin in and after cancer treatment is more reactive, more fragile, and easily overwhelmed. Oncology-safe care means every product and every technique is chosen with that in mind — nothing harsh, nothing assumed.
Care that respects what your skin is going through.
Chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy change the skin. It can become dry, thin, sensitive, or reactive in ways it never was before. Many standard facials — with their acids, actives, and aggressive exfoliation — are not appropriate during or soon after treatment.
An oncology-safe facial is built differently. Treatment is gentle by design, free of contraindicated ingredients, and adjusted to where you are in your care — whether you are mid-treatment, recently finished, or further into recovery. The goal is comfort, hydration, and barrier support, not aggressive correction.
This work is led by Dr. Cecilia Rusnak, a doctor with over 30 years of clinical and aesthetic experience and an active VA Community Care provider. Where appropriate, care is coordinated with the timing of your medical treatment.
Who oncology-safe facials are for.
During active treatment
For patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation who want gentle, supportive skin care that will not interfere with treatment. Cleared with your care team where appropriate.
In recovery afterward
For skin healing after treatment ends — addressing lingering dryness, sensitivity, texture changes, and helping the barrier rebuild over time.
Sensitive & compromised skin
For anyone whose skin has become reactive or fragile and who needs a calmer, medically considered approach than a standard facial provides.
Careful, and unhurried.
Consultation & review
We begin by understanding where you are — your diagnosis, your current treatment, where your skin is reacting, and what your medical team advises. Nothing proceeds until it is appropriate for you.
Gentle treatment
The facial itself is calm and minimal — gentle cleansing, hydration, barrier support, and soothing care, using only products appropriate for skin in or after cancer treatment. No harsh actives, no aggressive exfoliation.
Home care & follow-up
You leave with a simple, medically appropriate home routine and clear guidance. Care can continue at a pace that matches your treatment and recovery.
Questions, answered.
Can I have a facial during chemotherapy?
In many cases, yes — with a gentle, oncology-safe approach and, where appropriate, the awareness of your medical team. The consultation exists to determine what is right for you and your timing. We will never proceed with anything that is not appropriate for where you are in treatment.
How is this different from a regular facial?
A standard facial often relies on acids, strong actives, and exfoliation that skin in or after cancer treatment cannot tolerate. An oncology-safe facial removes those entirely and focuses on gentle cleansing, hydration, and barrier support — comfort and care rather than aggressive correction.
Do I need clearance from my oncologist?
It depends on where you are in treatment. We will talk through this in your consultation and, when appropriate, ask that you confirm with your care team before proceeding. Your medical treatment always comes first.
I have finished treatment. Is this still for me?
Yes. Skin often stays dry, thin, or reactive well after treatment ends. Oncology-safe facials support that recovery — calming sensitivity and helping the skin barrier rebuild — for as long as you need.
Gentle care, when you need it most.
Begin with a consultation. We will talk through where you are and what your skin needs — with no pressure, and at your pace.
Continue Your Results at Home
Recommended take-home support from Dr. Rusnak’s physician-formulated skincare line. Shop the full collection on Dr. Rusnak Wellness →
Calm Flow Water Cream
Designed for the fragile, dehydrated skin most patients experience during chemotherapy and radiation. The fragrance-free, peptide-rich gel-cream calms reactivity and rebuilds the moisture barrier without overwhelming compromised skin — the exact day-to-day moisturizer we recommend between in-clinic oncology-safe facial sessions.
Calm Flow Micellar Water
Chemotherapy and radiation often leave skin too sensitive for traditional cleansers. This no-rinse micellar water lifts SPF and impurities without water-stripping or fragrance — gentle enough for daily use during active treatment and through recovery.
Healing Support SPF 40
Photoprotection is non-negotiable during and after cancer treatment — radiation-exposed and post-chemo skin is hypersensitive to UV. Healing Support SPF 40 is a fragrance-free mineral broad-spectrum sunscreen we send home with every oncology-safe facial client; apply every morning and reapply mid-day.