CANCER SKIN TIPS

Caring for Your Skin during Cancer Treatment

Be Gentle with Your Skin
Use skin cleansing products made for sensitive skin. These products are usually fragrance-free and alcohol-free. Be careful not to scratch, rub or scrub your skin – pat it dry after a shower. Drink plenty of fluids to keep your skin hydrated.

Keep Your Skin Moist
To reduce skin dryness, shower in lukewarm instead of hot water. After you shower, put moisturizing lotion on you skin while it’s still damp.

Protect your skin from the sun
Some drugs used in cancer treatment may make your skin more sensitive to the sun. To protect your skin when you go outdoors, wear a broad-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt and long pants.

Take care of a skin rash
You may get an acne-like rash on your face, scalp, chest or elsewhere on your body. Your doctor can prescribe a cream to put on the rash. Be sure to use the cream exactly as your doctor directs.

Look after Your Fingernails and Toenails
Sometimes, problems with your nails develop weeks or months into your cancer treatment and may continue after you finish treatment. The skin around your fingernails or toenails may become dry, brittle or cracked, and some of your nails may become ingrown. Wear gloves when you wash dishes or do other chores in the house. Moisturize your hands and feet often

Try to prevent pressure sores
If you spend a lot of time lying in bed or sitting in a chair, you may be at risk for pressure sores.
Try to avoid lying or sitting in the same position for a long time. Be as active as possible – go for walks, or if you’re unable to walk, move your arms and legs up and down and back and forth.

Tell a Doctor or nurse right away if you feel pain or burning during chemotherapy
Sometimes drugs that are injected into a vein may leak out and cause skin damage. If you feel pain or burning during intravenous treatment, tell a doctor or nurse right away. He or she will most likely stop the treatment and clean the affected area.

Talk to your doctor about any Skin Concerns you have
If you notice any skin changes always your doctor know about them.
With some newer cancer treatments, a rash or other skin side effect may be a sign that the treatment is working.