Are you struggling with skin reactions during cancer treatment?
As a cancer caretaker and survivor myself, I know all too well what cancer treatments do to the skin. Many years later, my skin is still sensitive, reactive and can break out in rashes without proper tender care.
These rashes can be triggered by too much sun, chemical products, or even stress. I had fairly hardy skin before radiation and chemotherapy. Still, my treatments took a serious toll and continue to compromise my immune system even now that I’ve been cancer-free for years.
Cancer treatment doesn’t end when the last round of chemo is over or the final radiation session is done. The effects often linger, especially on the skin.
If you’re in treatment or navigating the recovery phase, you may be experiencing some of this now. The changes to your skin may be uncomfortable, painful, and, if visible, also distressing. Everyone’s journey is different. I experienced dryness, brutal radiation burns, and itchy, blistery chemo rashes. For you, changes may appear overnight, disrupting your sense of self at a time when you already feel vulnerable.
At CV Skinlabs, this topic is close to our hearts. We came into being for this very reason—to help restore comfort and confidence to those enduring the skin-related side effects of cancer treatments. We’ve walked alongside survivors and caretakers and have seen firsthand the toll that treatments can take, but we’ve also witnessed the healing that can come when we apply the right kind of care.
This is one of the main reasons we formulated our products to help skin recover its natural balance, skin health, and radiance. They are gentle, yet they provide effective healing and soothing care.
In this post, we’ll walk you through what happens to the skin before, during, and after treatment. We’ll also guide you on how to protect and care for your skin with safe, non-toxic strategies you can implement right now.
Skin Reactions During Cancer Treatment—What Happens?
Cancer treatments are designed to fight the most aggressive and dangerous cells in the body, but unfortunately, they can’t do this selectively. That means that they affect healthy cells, too, including those in your skin, hair, and nails, which is why skin (and nail and hair) reactions during treatments are so common.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the biggest culprits when it comes to skin damage. Chemotherapy affects the entire body, which means that the body’s largest organ—the skin—is often affected by the toxicity of the drugs.
Radiation therapy is more localized, affecting only one area, but it can be equally or even more harsh on that one area.
Here are some of the most common skin reactions cancer patients may experience:
- Dryness and flaking: Chemotherapy and radiation can cause skin to become extremely dry and hypersensitive. It may also peel and crack or intensely itch.
- Redness and irritation: Radiation, in particular, can leave the skin inflamed, flushed, sore, and hot to the touch—similar to a sunburn but longer lasting and more painful.
- Swelling and tenderness: Treated areas may feel puffy or swollen because of the inflammation underneath.
- Itching and rashes: Your skin may become more sensitive and reactive. Things that didn’t bother you before—like certain skincare ingredients or fabrics—may now cause your skin to itch or break out in a rash.
- Radiation burns: In more severe cases, radiation can cause burns that throb, blister and peel.
- Delayed wound healing and infection: Cancer treatments affect the immune system, so even minor cuts or sores can take longer to heal. They may also become more infected more easily, which is why it’s important to treat even minor wounds very carefully.
- Hand foot syndrome: A side effect of chemo, this can cause hands, feet, and nails to crack, peel, and turn red.
- Folliculitis: These are red, bumpy welts that can form on the scalp. They can be irritating, itchy, and very painful.
- Scarring: Scar tissue can be tight, hard and uncomfortable.
All of this means that you have to be very careful with how you care for skin during and after treatment. If you’re noticing any of these reactions, talk to your doctor about them. Open wounds, especially, may require medical treatment to avoid infection. That said, it’s just as important to have a daily skincare plan at home that helps keep your skin safe, clean, and as calm as possible.
Skin Reactions During Cancer Treatment—Safe Precautions During Treatment
During cancer treatment, the goal is to minimize damage, avoid triggers, and care for your skin as gently as possible to help prevent the breakdown of the skin barrier, and therefore, protect and strengthen skin.
Use only gentle, non-irritating products.
The products you use on your skin—and those that come into contact with your skin—become even more important during cancer treatments and usually afterward. Your skin is more fragile and reactive during treatments and may not be able to tolerate the products you used before.
Take a pause on the exfoliants, scrubs, AHA’s, retinols, and other potentially irritating skin care. Instead, look for clean, non-toxic brands that are gentle, moisturizing, and soothing (like CV Skinlabs), and that are formulated for compromised or sensitive skin. Avoid skincare with synthetic chemicals, fragrance, parabens, and other harsh preservatives.
Avoid sulfates and other stripping agents.
Sulfates (like sodium lauryl sulfate) are common in cleansers, shampoos, and some body washes and other cleansers. They can be extremely drying and irritating to fragile skin. Stick with sulfate-free formulas and wash with lukewarm water rather than hot to avoid stripping your skin of the moisture it has.
Be mindful of fragrance.
Synthetic fragrances are common irritants to even healthy skin. They are often a combination of unknown chemicals, as manufacturers are not required to list the ingredients in the fragrance itself on the label. Fragrance-free or naturally scented products are safest. Even essential oils can be too potent for treatment-weakened skin—or may be hormone-altering—so always do a patch test with a new product before using it.
Wash carefully and pat dry.
Avoid hot showers and baths. Instead of rubbing your skin with a towel, gently pat it dry to avoid unnecessary friction. Wash with a gentle, creamy product, and don’t overwash, as that can strip your skin of its natural oils.
Protect from the sun.
Your skin will be more sun-sensitive during and after treatment. Limit your exposure to direct sunlight, wear protective clothing, and use a physical (mineral) sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Moisturize regularly with a healing formula.
Keeping your skin hydrated is crucial to its healing and protection. Use a safe, clean moisturizer that is soothing and free of petroleum, fragrance, and alcohols. Ingredients like aloe, calendula, beta-glucan, and chamomile are excellent for calming inflammation.
See below for products to try!
Watch out for household irritants.
Your laundry detergent, dish soap, and even your pillowcase may affect your skin during and after treatments. Use fragrance-free detergents and consider wearing gloves when washing dishes or cleansing. Try a natural-fiber pillowcase if you don’t have one.
Stay hydrated and eat skin-supporting foods.
Your skin drinks hydration from the foods and beverages you consume and any moisturizer you use. Drink plenty of water and eat foods rich in omega-3s, antioxidants, and vitamins that support skin healing and elasticity.
Skin Reactions During Cancer Treatment—How to Soothe Irritated Skin
Even with all your precautions, your skin may still react to treatments. When it does, your job is to comfort and heal that skin. Here are some of the most effective ways to do that.
Apply a barrier-repair cream.
A product like CV Skinlabs Restorative Skin Balm can help restore the skin’s natural protective barrier while deeply hydrating and soothing irritated areas. It also safeguards the moisture barrier, helping to trap moisture in the skin.
Calendula, sea buckthorn oil, and arnica are powerful plant-based antioxidants known for their healing and skin regenerating properties. Oncologists and dermatologists recommend our Restorative Skin Balm in place of Aquaphor, as it is 100% natural, fragrance-free and petrolatum free.
Use it for radiation burns (always ask your doctor first), extreme dryness, flaking, and cracking.
Layer on moisture.
Your skin will need more moisture, so step up your applications to more than twice a day if needed. Always apply immediately after bathing to lock in moisture. Don’t wait until your skin feels dry–stay ahead of the dryness.
Try cool compresses.
A soft, cool cloth can reduce swelling and soothe irritation. Don’t apply ice directly to the skin. Use a soft cloth in between.
To Try:
- Rescue & Relief Spray: Provides instant cooling effects to any area of skin, absorbing heat and helping you feel better immediately. Use it to tame redness, flushing, soothe throbbing, instantly ease itching, and encourage the healing of radiation burns, rashes, and inflamed areas. You can store in the refrigerator to provide maximum cooling effect.
- Calming Moisture: Calms redness and deeply hydrates skin on the face, neck, and scalp. Use it to help dry, itchy skin and to soothe and hydrate red, rashy areas. It can also help tame folliculitis—those painful red and bumpy welts on the scalp. Full of powerful anti-inflammatories, soothing oat extract, beta glucan, and lipids, it encourages healing and helps rebuild skin strength and health. Apply Rescue + Relief Spray first, then follow with Calming Moisture for long lasting hydration and to help restore the skin’s protective barrier.
- Body Repair Lotion: Calms inflammation and delivers long-lasting moisture. Use it to soothe dry, itchy skin, restore cracking and peeling skin, heal radiation dermatitis, and boost collagen in thin, paper-like skin. Continued use can help minimize scarring.
- Restorative Skin Balm: Instantly softens severely dry and chapped skin. It helps safeguard the moisture barrier and provides nutrients and naturally occurring phytochemicals to help heal and regenerate wounded skin. Use to soften rough, dry skin; soothe itching; hydrate dry lips; encourage healing of radiation dermatitis; soften stiffened, hardened skin; and help fade scars. Cover skin with ointment and put on cotton gloves and socks to help relieve and heal symptoms.
Use a hydrating mist or toner.
A gentle hydrating spray can provide relief throughout the day without disturbing your skin. Look for one with calming ingredients, like our Rescue + Relief Spray. It contains chamomile and cucumber to calm and cool, while water lily purifies and removes heat, while immediately quelling itching.
Don’t forget your lips and hands.
These are often overlooked but are common areas for dryness and cracking. Keep a gentle, non-petroleum balm with you, like our Restorative Skin Balm.
Rest and reduce stress.
Stress can make everything worse, including skin reactions. Cancer treatments are already stressful enough, so try to reduce stress in other areas of your life. Give yourself space to rest, meditate, or simply breathe. Your skin is part of your whole health, and healing happens on all levels.
Skin Reactions During Cancer Treatment: Your Skin Deserves Extra TLC
Skin reactions during cancer treatments are frustrating and often difficult and can add to the burden you’re already carrying. As you probably already know, cancer and its side effects can take a toll on confidence and spirit.
Take the opportunity to step up your self-care. A little pampering can be enormously restorative and transformative! Plus, a few extra minutes spent on your skin can not only help your skin fare better but can also help you reduce stress and feel more like you can manage this one day at a time.
During and even after treatment, you’ll probably want to continue to avoid products with harmful or irritating ingredients. Continue to use only nourishing, hydrating, restorative, healing, and good-for-you products like CV Skinlabs to maintain healthy radiant skin.
At CV Skinlabs, we want to support your healing inside and out.
How did your skin do during cancer treatment?
Featured image by Thirdman via Pexels.
