How to Care for Your Body During Chemotherapy Treatment

From dry skin to hair loss, these are the most effective ways to care for your body when undergoing cancer treatment.

While chemotherapy is best known as one of the primary treatments for killing cancer cells it’s also well known by its unwanted side effects such as hair loss, parched skin, and nail damage. Since, generally, people tend to care about their appearance, the loss of one’s hair or damaged skin can be tremendously damaging to one’s self-esteem and overall well being. Fortunately, for those who are undergoing chemotherapy, there are several things that one can do, such as moisturizing their skin and using gentle shampoos, in order to protect their body from unwanted side effects.

The right moisturizer can make all the difference

For starters, chemotherapy often times will cause severely dry skin that can damage skin cells or cause infection, leaving many cancer patients wondering what they can do to get their skin feeling alive and healthy again. According to Dr. Shyamali Singhal, an Oncologist with over twenty years of experience, “The skin has three main functions: protection, regulation and sensation which can be easily affected by different conditions and damaged through different treatments.” In order to protect the skin from further damage, one should avoid taking long, hot showers or baths. To keep the skin moisturized, one should use creams that are simple and filled potent antioxidant protection, such as PCA Skin Silkcoat Balm.

Grab a bottle of the right sunscreen and protect yourself from UV rays

Moisturizers with any artificial additives such as fragrances or hormones should be avoided as this can be harmful to the skin, especially while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Additionally, some chemotherapy drugs make skin more susceptible to sunburn so while taking a stroll in the midday heat, it’s important to use sunscreen that is at least SPF 45 and can be used to defend against harmful UV rays that can be damaging to the skin. One brand of sunscreen, PCA Skin Weightless Protection Broad Spectrum, which is recommended by the Skin Care Foundation, works especially for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

As a result of having dry skin, itching can also become an issue for chemotherapy patients, especially patients that are over the age of fifty. As Dr. Singhal notes, “Skin is the biggest organ in our bodies and the first thing that people see on us. It's a barrier between us as organisms and the outside world.” While many people’s first instinct is to go for over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream, the hard truth is that often times these creams are not strong enough to relieve the itching and restore damaged skin cells. Often times, to resolve this issue, doctors will prescribe the patient steroids or anesthetic medications that one can apply to the skin with a greater healing effect.

The right shampoo makes a happy scalp

Another one of the most well-known side effects of chemotherapy is hair loss. Fortunately, there are several wonderful shampoos such as Alra Mild Conditioning Shampoo that cleanses and conditions the hair gently, yet thoroughly, while containing key components such as rosemary oil, Panthenol, and Aloe Vera Gel to promote hair regrowth while soothing and conditioning the scalp.  Like moisturizers, shampoos should be free of harsh chemicals, fragrances, and colorants while still maintaining a healthy ph-balance. If a patient is unable to grow their hair back for an extended period there is always the option of using a wig in order to look and feel better.

Treat your nails

Nails are also known to become rather brittle and dry during chemotherapy, sometimes even darkening while taking certain medications. Special nail care products such as nail treatments and oils can be used to get your nails feeling strong and healthy again. We recommend 7 in 1 Elixir Nail Treatment and along with Tree Tea Cuticle Oil, you’ll be able to carefully treat your nails by keeping them healthy and allowing them to grow stronger over time.