Chemotherapy can change your skin during treatment. But it is possible to soothe your skin and still look and feel yourself while receiving chemo. You can wear loose-fitting clothing and mild, unscented products, for example.

Chemotherapy is a common treatment for cancer. It has many potential benefits when it comes to effectively treating cancer, but it also tends to cause side effects.

You can take steps to manage the skin-related side effects of chemo, including steps that minimize discomfort.

Read on to learn more about how chemo could possibly affect your skin and the strategies you can use to feel and look your best during treatment.

Your skin can become dry, rough, itchy, and discolored during chemotherapy. You might also experience peeling, cracks, sores, or rashes. Chemo may also make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, increasing the risk of sunburn.

In rare cases, chemotherapy can trigger an allergic reaction. This may cause symptoms, such as sudden or severe itchiness, hives, or rash, in one or more body parts, including your skin.

To help protect and relieve skin-related side effects from chemotherapy:

  • Choose unscented products: Ask a medical professional if there are certain types of skin products that you should use. Generally, it’s best to choose mild, unscented products, such as dry skin soaps, by brands like Aveeno, Basis, Dove, or Neutrogena.
  • Avoid alcohol-based products: This includes perfumes, colognes, and aftershaves. A medical professional might also advise avoiding certain types of antiperspirants or deodorants.
  • Avoid hot showers and baths: Take short showers or baths in cool or lukewarm water rather than hot water. When you finish, gently pat your skin dry with a soft, clean towel.
  • Treat damp skin: After you finish your shower or bath, apply an unscented moisturizing lotion, mineral oil, or baby oil to damp skin.
  • Shave less: If your skin is sore or irritated, consider shaving less often or not at all. If you do shave, try an electric razor, which is typically a gentler option.
  • Wear loose-fitting clothing: Loose-fitting clothing is less likely to rub against your skin and cause irritation.
  • Choose mild detergents: Wash clothes in a mild, dye-free, fragrance-free detergent, such as Tide Free and Gentle or All Free Clear.
  • Protect your skin from sunlight: Wear sunscreen and lip balm with SPF 30 or higher, a wide-brimmed hat, and long-sleeved clothes. Try to limit the time you spend outside during peak sunlight hours and avoid tanning beds.
  • Drink water: Unless a medical professional has advised you to limit your fluid intake, try to drink 2 to 3 quarts of water or other fluids daily.

In some cases, a medical professional might prescribe medications to treat skin symptoms. They might prescribe medicated creams or ointments, oral corticosteroids or antibiotics, or other treatments.

If you develop open sores on your skin, carefully clean them with mild soap and water. Cover them with a clean bandage. Check them regularly for signs of infection, such as discoloration, swelling, drainage, or pus.

If you suspect that you’ve developed an infection or are experiencing an allergic reaction, contact a medical professional immediately. In some cases, infections and allergic reactions can be serious and even life threatening.

Skin-related side effects of chemo tend to be temporary. However, they can be a source of anxiety. If you don’t look or feel like yourself, that might make your overall treatment more stressful.

In some cases, applying makeup might help you feel more confident or comfortable about your appearance during chemo. For example, it might help to:

  • Apply a silicone-based makeup primer to your face to even out the texture or tone of your skin.
  • Dab a creamy concealer on discolored areas of your face. It might also help to apply a color-correcting cream, mineral makeup powder, or foundation.
  • Apply blush to your cheeks, blending upward toward your ear lobes to give your face a glow.
  • Use a tinted lip balm or moisturizing lipstick to give your lips more color.

If you’ve lost your eyelashes or eyebrows, you can also use a soft eyeliner, eyebrow pencil, and brow powder to create the effect of eyelashes and eyebrows.

If your skin texture, tone, or sensitivity has changed during treatment, you might need to use different products than you usually reach for.

To limit the risk of infection, buy new makeup to use during and after treatment. Replace your makeup regularly, and always wash your hands before applying it.

For more makeup and beauty-related tips, consider contacting Look Good Feel Better. This organization offers free sessions to help people with cancer manage changes to their appearance.

Talk with a medical professional if you develop skin-related side effects from chemotherapy. They may prescribe medications to help treat the symptoms.

You can help protect and soothe your skin by using gentle, scent-free products, such as moisturizers, dry skin soap, and laundry detergents for sensitive skin.

Adjusting your hygiene or makeup routine may also help you feel better about your appearance during treatment.