6 Operations, 9 Years of Tamoxifen: My Journey to Skin Resilience.

There is a specific kind of exhaustion that comes with a "medical marathon."

Most people understand the immediate shock of a diagnosis, but fewer talk about the years that follow - the repeated cycles of surgery, the recovery rooms, and the long-term hormonal shifts that change not just your life, but your very biology.

My journey began at 43 when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Over the next few years, I navigated several surgeries and radiotherapy. When the cancer returned two years later, I had a mastectomy. Two years after that, it returned in the other breast, leading to a second mastectomy.

In total, I have had 6 operations. And for the last nine years, I have taken Tamoxifen every single day.

The "Silent" Impact of Medical Transition

While I never underwent chemotherapy, the toll of all of the surgeries and a decade of hormone-blocking therapy was written all over my skin.

Tamoxifen is a lifesaver, but it is also a "moisture thief." By blocking oestrogen, it puts the body into a state of medical menopause. Almost overnight, my skin lost its "bounce." It became paper-thin, prone to bruising, and developed a reactive sensitivity that made my old favourite products feel like they were burning.

I realised then that most skincare is made for "happy" skin. There was very little for skin in a state of trauma - skin that needed to heal from incisions, skin that was parched by medication, and skin that was simply tired.

What I Learned Through 6 Recoveries

Through those six recoveries, I developed a philosophy that is now the heartbeat of Puremess: Your skin doesn't need to be "fixed" or "corrected." It needs to be held.

Here is what I wish someone had told me at the start of my journey:

1. The Anaesthetic "Hangover" is Real: Surgery is a massive inflammatory event. Your skin often looks dull and "grey" post-op because your body is directing every ounce of energy toward internal healing. This is the time for Oats and Mandarin - ingredients that soothe inflammation without asking the skin to do any "work."

2. Tamoxifen Requires a "Lipid Hug": When oestrogen is suppressed, your skin’s lipid barrier (its protective seal) develops gaps. Moisture leaks out, and irritants get in. You cannot "moisturise" your way out of this with water-based creams alone; you need unrefined plant oils like Rosehip, Argan, and Pomegranate to manually seal those gaps.

3. Gentle Care is a Form of Self-Compassion: Post-mastectomy, the chest area is incredibly sensitive. Using a bicarb-free, natural deodorant wasn't just about avoiding chemicals for me; it was about being gentle with a part of my body that had been through so much.

Introducing: The Skin Resilience System

I didn't just formulate these products to start a business; I formulated them to survive my own recovery. I’ve brought the most vital pieces together into what I call The Skin Resilience System.

It’s the "Safe Haven" for your skin. It includes our Oat & Mandarin Cleanser (for the days when everything feels too much), our Nourishing Facial Oil (the lipid seal), and our Sensitive Deodorant.

You Are More Than Your Diagnosis

If you are currently in the middle of your own medical marathon - whether it’s surgery #1 or surgery #10 - please know this: Your skin is doing its best. It is a remarkable organ that is trying to protect you while you heal.

Don't fight it. Support it.

With love and resilience, Gemma x