Chemotherapy can affect the skin’s natural barrier, causing dryness, itching, or skin discoloration. It can also increase the risk of skin and eye infections, and result in hair loss that can change a person’s facial appearance.
Individuals undergoing chemotherapy can take steps to maintain their skin health and treat any skin-related side effects.
The
Using recommended skin care products
A person should use gentle skin care products that their doctor or nurse recommends. These may include:
- moisturizers, creams, and lotions
- shaving gels
- soaps
- antiperspirant deodorants
- powders
Applying hydrating creams and lotions
Hydrating moisturizers help lock moisture into the skin, which helps prevent and treat skin dryness, itching, and irritation.
Reducing skin irritation also helps to prevent infection.
Preventing and treating skin dryness and itching
The following tips can help to prevent and treat dry, itchy, skin:
- Avoid products containing alcohol or fragrance.
- Add colloidal oatmeal to baths to help reduce itching.
- Bathe or shower in lukewarm water as opposed to hot water.
- Pat the skin dry after bathing or showering, ensuring to leave a little moisture on the skin.
- Apply recommended creams or ointments to damp skin after showering or bathing.
- Apply a cool washcloth to areas of dry, itchy skin.
Preventing skin infections
Chemotherapy can temporarily weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of skin infections.
A person can talk with their nurse or treatment team for tips on how to clean, dry, and moisturize their skin to reduce the risk of infection.
They can also ask their nurse about possible signs of infection, and when to see a doctor.
To soothe the skin, a person can:
- Cleanse the skin using a soft, clean washcloth and unscented soap.
- Shower or bathe in warm water as opposed to hot.
- Add oatmeal, baking soda, or bath oil to bath water.
- Gently pat the skin dry after showering or bathing.
- Apply recommended creams or lotions to damp skin after showering or bathing.
- Apply an alcohol-free, fragrance-free skin cream to the affected areas.
- Ensure indoor temperatures are cool and rooms are properly ventilated to prevent sweating.
- Drink plenty of fluids to boost skin hydration.
- Ask a doctor about taking medications to alleviate severe or persistent skin itching.
To reduce itching, a person can:
- Place crushed ice in a zip-lock bag, wrap it in a towel, and place it against the skin for a short time.
- Keep nails short and clean, and wear clean fabric gloves if prone to frequent scratching.
- Wear soft, loose-fitting clothes to prevent chafing and irritation.
- Try methods to reduce itching without scratching and breaking the skin, such as:
- applying pressure
- rubbing
- vibration
- Engage in activities that help to distract from the itching, such as:
Cancer Research UK offers the following tips on caring for facial skin during chemotherapy.
- Practice a morning and evening skin care routine that involves cleansing and moisturizing.
- Choose skin care products that are suitable for sensitive skin.
- Use a gentle exfoliator once a week after cleansing to remove dead skin cells.
- Apply a creamy face mask up to three times per week to help improve skin hydration.
- Pat a serum into the face before applying moisturizer.
- Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to the face and neck before going outdoors, and reapply it regularly.
A person should check with a doctor or specialist nurse before using a new skin care product for the first time, if:
- cancer treatment is ongoing
- cancer treatment is targeted to the face or neck areas
- skin irritation or reaction has developed in the past
How can a person treat chemo rash on the face?
A skin rash is a
Anyone who experiences a chemo rash should inform their doctor or cancer care team. They may be able to recommend specific over-the-counter or prescription skin care products that can help to treat the rash.
Other treatment options include:
- gently cleansing the area with warm water, a soft and clean washcloth, and a gentle soap
- rinsing the rash area and patting it dry with a soft, clean towel, or a clean cotton wool pad
- applying any medications the doctor prescribes to treat the rash
- applying a gentle moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated
- avoiding exposing the rash to direct sunlight or extreme hot or cold temperatures
Below are some general tips that can help a person to look and feel more like themselves during chemotherapy.
Lashes and eyebrows
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss that affects the eyelashes and eyebrows. Learning how to redefine these features during chemotherapy may help a person to look and feel more like themselves.
Those who want to wear eye makeup during chemotherapy choose products that are soft and waterproof. The skin around the eyes is delicate and watery eyes can be a side effect of chemotherapy.
Redefining lashes
Cancer Research UK provides the following tips on redefining eyelashes:
- Step 1: Gently wash the area around the eyes.
- Step 2: Apply an eye primer to the eyelids and brow areas to help eye makeup last longer.
- Step 3: Apply a long-wearing, soft eyeliner pencil along the lash line of the upper eyelid. Start from the center of the eyelid and work outward, extending the line slightly beyond the natural lash line. Apply a small amount of eyeliner to the outer corner of the lower lash line, if desired.
- Step 4: Load an eyeshadow brush with an eyeshadow that is similar in color to the eyeliner. Blend this over the top of the eyeliner for a softer and more natural eye look, if desired.
Redefining eyebrows
People can use eyebrow makeup to help redefine their eyebrows during or after chemotherapy.
If a person still has their natural brows, they can use the shape as a guide for product placement. If a person has lost most or all of their natural brows, they can try using an older photograph of themselves for reference.
People can apply eyebrow makeup freehand, starting from a point above the inner corner of the eye in line with the nostril, and working toward the outer corner of the eye. The arch of the brow should sit just above the brow bone.
Alternatively, many makeup manufacturers offer eyebrow stencil packs in different sizes and shapes, which come with shadow and highlighter pigments.
People who want to use eyebrow powder instead of eyebrow pencil may first want to apply eyebrow wax or gel to help hold the powder in place. Eyebrow powders can also help to fill any gaps in the brows.
Another method is to use an eyebrow pencil to add fine strokes that look like individual hairs.
Chemotherapy can temporarily weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of infections, including skin and eye infections.
The following tips can help to prevent makeup-related skin infections during chemotherapy:
Throw away old makeup
While makeup typically does not have a specific expiry date, products do come with a Period After Opening symbol. This symbol consists of a jar with an open lid, featuring a number and letter “M” on the front. The number indicates the number of months the product should last after opening.
The table below shows outlines different types of makeup and the maximum amount of time dermatologists recommend keeping the product after opening:
| Makeup product | Maximum amount of time to keep the product after opening |
| • liquid eyeliner • mascara | 3 months |
| • BB cream • cream blush • liquid eyeshadow • lip balm • lip gloss • lip plumper | 6 months |
| eye shadow powder | 6 to 9 months |
| • liquid concealer • liquid foundation | 1 year |
| • brow powder • lip liner • lipstick | 2 years |
| • eyeliner pencil • mineral powder • powder blush | 2 to 3 years |
Some other general signs that may indicate a makeup has spoiled include:
- clumping, which can happen with mascaras and liquid eyeliners
- separation or other changes in consistency, which can happen with liquid foundations
- crumbling, which can happen with powdered eyeshadows or blushes
- changes in color
- unusual or unpleasant odor
- unusual sensation when applied to the skin
Cleaning makeup application tools
Dirty makeup brushes and sponges can harbor bacteria that can lead to skin infections. People should wash their makeup brushes every 7 to 10 days and clean their makeup sponges after every use.
To clean makeup brushes, a person can use the following steps:
- Step 1: Rinse the tip of the brush under lukewarm, running water to remove residual makeup.
- Step 2: Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and a table of gentle or clarifying shampoo.
- Step 3: Swirl each brush tip in the bowl, or against the palm of the hand to create a good lather.
- Step 4: Rinse the brush tip under running water.
- Step 5: Continue shampooing and rinsing the brush until the water runs clear.
- Step 6: Use a clean, dry paper towel to squeeze any excess moisture from the brush.
- Step 7: Lay the brush flat to dry on a clean towel, ensuring that the tip of the brush hangs off the edge of the counter.
To clean makeup sponges, a person can use the following steps:
- Step 1: Fill a bowl with warm water, adding a few drops of soap or liquid cleanser.
- Step 2: Place the sponge in the bowl and massage the soapy water into the sponge for 15 seconds.
- Step 3: Remove the sponge and hold it under warm, running water until the water turns clear.
- Step 4: Squeeze any excess water from the sponge.
- Step 5: Place the sponge on a clean paper towel to air dry.
Other general tips
Some other tips for preventing makeup-related skin and eye infections include:
- throwing away any eye makeup a person used while experiencing an eye infection
- washing the hands and face thoroughly before applying makeup
- replacing and securing product caps and lids after each use
- storing all cosmetics in a dry, clean space, away from direct sunlight
- never sharing makeup products that apply directly to the skin or eyelashes
- never sharing makeup products that apply with a makeup applicator
- removing eye makeup with a clean cotton pad for each eye
When choosing skin care products for use during chemotherapy, people should opt for:
- gentle, creamy cleansers that do not strip moisture from the skin
- an alcohol-free toner
- moisturizers with ingredients that contain humectants to pull water into the skin, or emollients to seal moisture into the skin
- a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or above, and a UVA rating of 4 or 5 stars for broad-spectrum UV protection
Products or ingredients to avoid
Some skin care and cosmetic products and ingredients to avoid include:
- washes or cleansers containing soap, which can dry out the skin
- harsh exfoliating products, which can strip the skin of moisture
- toners containing alcohol, as these can dry the skin
- products containing fragrances, which can irritate the skin
- products containing sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
The above products can cause skin dryness or irritation. SLS can increase skin sensitivity.
Chemotherapy can affect the skin barrier, causing dryness, itching, or redness and discoloration, and can also increase the risk of infections. It can also cause loss of facial hair, which may affect a person’s appearance and self-esteem.
Those undergoing chemotherapy can take steps to maintain their skin health. Skin care during chemotherapy involves choosing gentle products that are suitable for sensitive skin and avoiding products with harsh ingredients that can cause dryness or irritation.
People can also try makeup application techniques to help them look and feel more like themselves during chemotherapy.
When using makeup, it is important to take steps to reduce the risk of infection. This includes thoroughly washing the hands and face before applying makeup, regularly washing makeup applicators, and throwing away old makeup.