Since you aren’t showing as much skin during winter months, you may find yourself neglecting it. But depending where you live, winter can expose your skin to harsh conditions like dry heat and bitter cold. If you find yourself with seasonal eczema, you’ll want to take extra care to nourish and protect your skin. Here is a video with some information on the typical symptoms of eczema, as well as some tips on how to help prevent or care for an outbreak.
Archive for the ‘Tips’ Category
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Caring for Skin with Eczema During Winter Months
Friday, November 18, 2011
3 Simple Ways To Calm Your Fear
It’s amazing how much fear can come up when our physical health is challenged. We may entertain all the worst-case scenarios, 
worry how our illness will affect the ones we love, or suddenly find ourselves ill at ease in the world. While a certain amount of fear is healthy and can motivate us to create needed lifestyle changes or go after the medical care we need, a lot of it is not helpful and can actually stress our bodies further.
So, here are 3 simple ways you can get some leverage on the fear and restore yourself to calm:
1. Get a Leg Up. You don’t need to wait for the fear to become overwhelming. Plan to take 3, 5, 10, or 20-minute breaks every couple of hours for the purpose of calming your mind and centering your heart. You can take several deep breaths, meditate, walk outside, or listen to your favorite song. These short intermissions from your life will help you stay connected to yourself and make it less likely for you to spin out in fear. You may wish to set a few alarms in advance to help you remember.
2. Avoid Fear Inducers. If you’re with someone who starts telling you negative stories about how bad someone else’s similar situation turned out, or if they look at you with pitying eyes and speak with an implied “poor you” in their voice, WALK AWAY – FAST. Do not force yourself to hear them out just to be polite. You have enough on your plate without having to make someone else feel better about their negativity. Instead, engage with people who remind you of your strength, your great support system, and the possibility of Grace filling your life.
3. Take Control. Health challenges can have us feeling panicked with a lost sense of control. So what can you still control, even now? It may be the doctors and specialists you go to, or the people you choose to spend time with, what to focus your mind on, or even little things like how you are cleaning your house or cooking your food. If you can put yourself in the driver’s seat in some areas, it can decrease feelings of helplessness.
And here’s a bonus tip that no one really wants to hear, but it’s so important: Lay Off the Sugar, Caffeine and Junk Food! As hard as it is, these things tax the system and will keep you in a cycle of highs and lows. Unfortunately, these are usually the easiest things to grab when you don’t feel liking eating or cooking healthy meals for yourself. But see if you can reach for something a bit healthier next time. It really will help you stay more in charge of yourself and your ability to manage fear.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Important Note from Jean, Founder of Jeans Cream
Dear Jeans Cream Community,
As you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To me, this month is a good time to remember how far I’ve come since my diagnosis and treatment. It is also a time when I reflect on just how essential it is to stay on top of my health. So I want to encourage each and every one of you to also put your health at the head of your to-do list right now – today!
Here are some important appointments to make. Check with your doctor for other tests and medical visits he or she might recommend:
- Besides getting your mammograms, make sure to schedule your annual physical.
- There are age-related tests you should have that your doctor will arrange for you, such as a colonoscopy and bone density, cholesterol and EKG.
- Go to a dermatologist to have a medical professional look at your skin.
- See your dentist at least annually. Your mouth and gums need to be checked.
- Visit an ophthalmologist for an annual eye exam to make sure your eyes stay healthy.
If you are asked to get an MRI, Cat Scan or any other evaluation, make the appointment as soon as possible. You are in charge of staying ahead of the game when it comes to your body.
Thank you
for being part of our community! Please continue to stay connected by leaving comments on Facebook or our blog, and by sending us email. We are honored to be a part of your journey of healing and continued good health. May we all continue to thrive for many years to come!
Sincerely, Jean Soulios
Founder and President of Jeans Cream
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Enter Our FREE Giveaway of Queasy Pops!
One of the most common chemotherapy or radiation side effects is nausea, and everyone discovers what works best for 
helping them to ease theirs. Many experts recommend that patients suck on hard candy, which is why Queasy Pops and Queasy Drops are such a great way to find relief. Developed by healthcare professionals, Queasy Pops are all natural, drug free, and use a special formulation of essential oils and aromatherapy to stimulate the trigeminal nerve, a cranial nerve associated with nausea relief. They are also wonderful for helping with dry mouth and can give a nice energy boost.
helping them to ease theirs. Many experts recommend that patients suck on hard candy, which is why Queasy Pops and Queasy Drops are such a great way to find relief. Developed by healthcare professionals, Queasy Pops are all natural, drug free, and use a special formulation of essential oils and aromatherapy to stimulate the trigeminal nerve, a cranial nerve associated with nausea relief. They are also wonderful for helping with dry mouth and can give a nice energy boost.
Queasy Pops come in seven flavors: peppermint, cinnamon, sour lemon, papaya, ginger, sour raspberry and green tea with lemon.
Lucky for us! As a special for the Jeans Cream community, Three Lollies, the maker of Queasy Pops, is offering two free boxes of Queasy Pops to two winners of our giveaway. Just leave a comment by 6pm on Wednesday, September 28 and tell us why you (or one of your friends) would love to try Queasy Pops, and we’ll enter you in the drawing to win.
Some technical details…
1. Only one entry will count.
2. Giveaway is open to legal residents of the continental United States who are at least 18 years of age.
3. The winner will be selected at random and notified via email.
Friday, July 22, 2011
How To Reduce Radiation Side Effects and Chemotherapy Side Effects
Radiation side effects and chemotherapy side effects can seriously impact a person’s ability to function and feel positive. Here are some quick tips to help reduce the side effects caused by radiation and chemotherapy:
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Life After Cancer Treatment Ends
You spend months juggling appointments and dealing with radiation side effects and the side effects from chemotherapy. You 
make it through the diagnosis and then the demands of healing. You finally complete your treatment protocol and get a clean bill of health. Now what?
For many people, life doesn’t get “back to normal” – at least not right away. Life has to find a new normal. This may involve lifestyle and diet changes, a difference in outlook, or re-assessing your support network. You may still be coping with the effects of treatment on your body, such as fatigue, memory and concentration changes, pain, or menopause symptoms. You may be addressing body changes or a lowered sex drive. And as one cancer survivor put it so eloquently, “You’re always a little afraid of it coming back.”
So what do you do? How do you handle this beginning to the rest of your life? Here are some great resources to help you navigate life right after treatment ends:
Facing Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment
Cancer Survivors: Managing Your Emotions After Cancer Treatment
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Cancer Treatment Side Effects: How To Apply Make-Up During Chemo
April Capil created this Makeup Tutorial for Women going through Chemotherapy because, during her journey through 
breast cancer, she “found it discouraging that so many of the women we see on television and in the media (like Celia in WEEDS, Lynette in DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, and Samantha in SEX AND THE CITY) are depicted as just having buzzed hair or bald heads. If you’ve had cancer and chemo, you know that’s NOT what you look like! Your hair thins, often not fallling completely out. You lose your eyebrows and eyelashes – often you don’t even recognize yourself when you look in the mirror!! It can be very discouraging and you don’t want to go out in public.
“It doesn’t have to be that way. With just a little effort, you can put your face together and feel more comfortable going out in public and not feeling like a freakshow. You just have to rediscover makeup again! Let this video be your inspiration, and check out other YouTube Channels like MichellePhan and MakeupGeek (women who are way, way more talented than me!).”
We LOVE the job she does here – how easy she makes it look to be beautiful!!! Thank you, April!
CLICK HERE FOR HER TUTORIAL.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
How To Ask for Help
If you’re like most of us, just the idea of asking for help can bring up anxiety. But sometimes in life, we’re overwhelmed 
and simply cannot move forward without the kind assistance of others. This can be especially true if we find ourselves in a healing process, working our way through cancer treatment, chemo and radiation side effects, chronic severe eczema, and so on.
If asking for help is new for you, here are a couple of tips to help you out:
1. Get Clear. What is it that you really need… A ride to the doctor’s office? Someone to cook for you or just sit with you a couple of hours?
2. Be Direct. Forthrightly ask for what you need so that the other person can get a realistic picture of what’s involved.
3. Let Go of Rejection. If someone says, “no,” it has nothing to do with whether you are worthy of being helped. It simply means that they are not available and someone else is better suited to help you. Keep asking until you find the right support.
4. Relax and Enjoy. If someone is helping you, let go and enjoy the assistance. Really use it as a time to receive and focus on your healing.
5. Say, “Thank You.” Sometimes saying a simple, “thank you” is enough. Other times, you might feel drawn to send a note or gift of appreciation. It’ll depend on the situation and friends can help you decide if you’re not sure.
Just think how good you feel when you’re able to do something kind for another person. The people in your life will generally feel the same way, so don’t assume your request is a burden for them. You may actually be the brightest part of their day.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Radiation Side Effects: How To Cope with Fatigue
Fatigue is a common side effect of radiation therapy. While undergoing treatment, you may find that you are far more tired than usual and that you simply don’t have the energy to attend to the tasks of your day as you used to. This does not mean that the cancer is getting worse or that the treatments are not working. It could just be the fatigue that is a common side effect of getting radiation therapy.
Here are some tips to help you cope with fatigue if you’re experiencing it:
1. Let’s face it. You’re going to need more rest as your body undergoes treatment and tries to heal. So make it a priority to get at least eight hours of sleep a night. Whatever you usually do in those late hours before bed may not be as vital as your rest, so consider letting them go. Reading a book before bed can help tire your mind out so that you fall asleep more soundly. And if you are able, take short naps (about a half hour is generally good) during the day.
2. Believe it or not, most people coping with fatigue as a radiation therapy side effect find it helpful to exercise each day. A simple 15-30 minute walk or bike ride can make a big difference.
3. Ask for help when you need it. See if you can lessen your work schedule and go into the office part-time for a few weeks. Ask your loved ones for assistance.
4. Slow down, rather than give up. You might simply allow tasks to take you longer to complete, or you might find this approach works the best: Do a task, take a break, do another task, take a break.
5. Make yourself a priority. Honor your limits and do the things that are most important to you first so that you’re sure you have enough energy for them.
Fatigue caused by radiation therapy often clears up after treatment ends but some people find that it lingers for quite a while. So be gentle with yourself. If your fatigue isn’t helped by these tips, or if it is strong enough to cause you concern, talk to your nurse or doctor about it.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Let Yourself Grieve
Grieving is a natural process and many of us don’t allow ourselves to do it enough. Because life is constantly changing, we are 
often leaving behind people or circumstances that were once very important to us. If we have been diagnosed with an illness, we may need to grieve the life that came before. We may feel sad about losing a sense of invulnerability or easy peace of mind. We may have to change the way we relate with others. Our bodies might never be the same, or perhaps recovery will help us feel better than ever, but we may have to say goodbye to our old lifestyle and way of relating with our physical form.
The trouble with denying our grief or stuffing it down, is that it never has a chance to wash through us and leave us clear and open to new, positive experiences. You may need to cry, sleep more, mope around for a day or two, or just talk to friends about your loss. But consider your grief real and legitimate – no matter what the perceived loss is. Allowing yourself to be real about how it feels to let go will bring you greater support and an internal sense of comfort about whatever changes you have been going through.
