Oncodermatology

After chemotherapy, hair typically grows back in two or three months. After radiation therapy, it often takes from three to six months for your hair to begin growing again.

We can discuss topical or oral minoxidil to help if your hair does not grow back fully. This medication is safe to use during and after most cancer treatments. It is a non-hormonal medication, so it can usually be used in patients with hormonally active or hormonally sensitive cancers, such as breast, ovarian and prostate cancers.

You can ask your provider about a chemo cap, which cools the hair and scalp during treatment and has been effective in reducing hair loss for some people.

In the meantime, treat your hair and scalp gently.

• Wash your hair less often, and don’t scrub your scalp vigorously. Massage gently with your fingertips only.
• Don’t color your hair.
• Use gentle shampoos.
• Avoid anything that could hurt or irritate your scalp, such as hair dryers, hair irons, gels, foams, clips, hairpins, tight bands, tight braiding and hair extensions.
• Instead of rubbing your hair dry, pat it with a soft towel to remove excess water.

Chemo rash can start as skin that looks red and feels warm. It can present in many different ways and may look different on different skin tones.

An oncodermatologist may recommend certain skin cleansers and moisturizers or may prescribe medicines to make you more comfortable and reduce the appearance of your rash.

Itching and dry skin are common side effects of many cancer therapies. Though common, both can be quite bothersome. Fortunately, there are many gentle, effective ways to reduce itching and dryness.

Here are some suggestions on how to care for your skin to decrease itching and dryness.

In the shower or bath

• Use lukewarm water. Avoid water that is too hot or too cold.
• Use enough soap to remove dirt and oil but avoid using so much that you see a thick lather.
• Use soap only in the areas that become oily or stinky, such as your face, underarms, groin, buttocks and feet. Clean all other areas with warm water alone.
• Avoid vigorous scrubbing with a washcloth, sponge or brush. Just use your hands to wash.
• Use a fragrance-free mild soap. See examples of gentle products below.
• Limit time in the shower or bath to 5-10 minutes.
• Avoid using bubble bath or scented bath bombs.
   

After showering or bathing

• Gently pat your skin dry with a towel.
• Moisturize within a few minutes of getting out of the shower or bath to "lock-in" moisture. You may need to use moisturizers several times a day. Use a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer. See examples of gentle moisturizers below.
• In addition, there are several excellent over-the-counter anti-itch lotions and creams. These have special ingredients that calm the skin and soothe the nerves that produce itching. See examples below.
   

Other suggestions

• Avoid using colognes, perfumes and scented sprays as these can irritate sensitive skin.
• Use unscented laundry products, including detergents and fabric softeners.
• Try to avoid wearing tight or rough clothing. Wool clothes and new clothes can be irritating. Consider wearing silk or cotton clothing underneath irritating fabrics.
• During the dry winter months, use a humidifier to help prevent dry skin. Remember to keep the humidifier clean to avoid mold growth. 
   

Examples of gentle, fragrance-free soaps

• CeraVe^® hydrating cleanser bar
• CeraVe hydrating body wash
• Vanicream^® cleansing bar
• Vanicream body wash for sensitive skin
• Eucerin^® advanced body and face cleanser
   

Examples of gentle, fragrance-free moisturizers

• CeraVe moisturizing cream
• CeraVe itch relief moisturizing cream
• Cetaphil^® body moisturizer
• Vanicream moisturizing cream
• Eucerin advanced repair cream
• Eucerin intensive repair lotion
• Aveeno^® skin relief moisture repair cream
   

Examples of over-the-counter anti-itch lotions and creams

• Sarna^® Itch Relief Lotion
• Sarna for Sensitive Skin Itch Relief Lotion
• Eucerin Itch Relief Calming Lotion
• CeraVe Itch Relief Moisturizing Lotion
• CeraVe Itch Relief Moisturizing Cream

It is common for skin to become more sensitive to sunlight during treatment for cancer. Fortunately, there are many ways to protect skin from sunlight and prevent sensitivity, irritation, and rashes.

Here are some suggestions on how to protect your skin from sunlight.

• Avoid intense sun exposure and always avoid indoor tanning.
  • Try to avoid being in direct sunlight when possible, particularly when the sun is most intense between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
  • Try to stay in shaded areas when outdoors when possible.
  • Do not use tanning beds or booths. No amount of indoor tanning is safe! Even small amounts of indoor tanning before vacations or events can cause damage to your skin.
     
• Wear sun protective clothing. Examples of good sun protective clothing include:
  • A hat with a wide brim
  • Shirts with high collars and long sleeves that are of a darkly colored, tightly weaved fabric
  • Long pants that are of a darkly colored, tightly weaved fabric
  • Clothing that is specifically designed to protect your skin from the sun, which is designated as having a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor)
     
• Use sunscreen whenever you are in the sun. A good sunscreen has the following features:
  • A minimum of SPF 30
  • Broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays
  • Water resistance
  • If possible, look for sunscreens that have the designation "PA+++" or "PA++++" on the label. This new system rates sunscreens' ability to block UVA rays.
     

If the sunscreen meets these criteria, you should use whichever sunscreen you like best. See a list of recommended sunscreens below. Lotion or cream sunscreens will be gentler on the skin than spray sunscreens.

How to Apply Sunscreen

• Apply to all exposed skin 20 – 30 minutes before you are out in the sun.
• Re-apply every 2 hours.
• If you are swimming or sweating, reapply every 80 minutes or immediately after towel drying the skin.
   

Examples of Sunscreens

Sensitive skin: Look for sunscreens that contain only zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredients. Lotion or cream sunscreens are preferred, as spray sunscreens are often more irritating to sensitive skin.

• Vanicream^® sunscreen SPF 50
• Aveeno^® baby continuous protection
• Elta MD^® UV pure broad spectrum
• Blue Lizard^® baby suncreen
• Blue Lizard sensitive sunscreen
• LaRoche-Posay^® antihelios mineral
• Supergoop^® play mineral sunscreen
   

Sport and sweat resistance: Sweat and water resistance does not mean waterproof. This sunscreen should still be reapplied frequently.

• Elta MD UV sport broad spectrum
• Elta MD UV active
• La Roche-Posay Antihelios melt-in sunscreen
• La Roche-Posay Antihelios sport
• Supergoop Play sunscreen
   

Lightweight, non-greasy feel:

• Sun Bum^® original lotion
• Bare Republic^® clear screen
• Bare Republic mineral sunscreen gel lotion
• La Roche-Posay Antihelios sport
• Supergoop unseen sunscreen
• Neutrogena^® ultra sheer dry touch sunscreen
   

Face: For any facial sunscreen, it is important to make sure the product is "noncomedogenic" meaning that it will not clog the pores and cause acne.

• Elta MD UV daily
• Elta MD UV clear
• Bare Republic mineral sunscreen gel lotion for face
• La Roche-Posay Antihelios clear skin oil free sunscreen
• Supergoop mattescreen
• Supergoop every single face sunscreen
• Neutrogena clear face oil free sunscreen
   

Tinted sunscreens for melasma and issues with skin pigmentation:

• Elta MD UV elements tinted
• Supergoop mattescreen
• Supergoop glowscreen
• La Roche-Posay Antihelios tinted mineral sunscreen for face
• Colorescience^® Sunforgettable face primer tinted or brush-on sunscreen
• Coola^® tinted sunscreen
• MDSolarsciences^® mineral tinted cream
   

Lip sunscreens: It is very important to protect your lips from the sun too!

• Supergoop lip shield and fusion lip balms
• Elta MD UV lip balm
• Tizo^® tinted lip protection
• Vanicream lip sunscreen
   

Nail issues can vary. Gentle, fragrance-free moisturizers (emollients) can help with dry cuticles and nail beds. Clear, thickening nail lacquers can strengthen dry or brittle nails.