Minor skin problems often occur while on chemotherapy. The most common problems are rashes, redness, itching, peeling, dryness, and acne. Here are suggestions for preventing and treating skin problems:

• Avoid hot showers or baths, as these can dry the skin.
• Use moisturizing soap.
• Apply a water-based moisturizer after bathing, and once or twice daily, depending on the level of skin dryness.
• Rub cornstarch on itchy skin to help soothe it.
• Avoid scratchy materials such as wool. Your child may feel more comfortable in loose, cotton clothing.
• Have your child use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. This is especially important for areas that have been irradiated.
• Insist on head coverings or sunscreen every time your child goes outdoors if she is bald, especially if she had cranial radiation and/or is taking methotrexate.
• Buy your child lip balm with sunscreen.

Matthew’s lips would get very dry and eventually start to peel. It irritated him, and he developed a habit of biting on his lips. To minimize the problem, I learned that wiping a cool, wet cloth over his mouth many times a day worked well. I would then apply a light coating of Vaseline® to his lips to keep them moist.

If your child has chemotherapy drugs injected into the veins (rather than a central venous catheter), you may notice a darkening along the veins; this will fade after treatment ends. However, skin and underlying tissues can be damaged or destroyed by drugs that leak out of a vein. If your child feels a stinging or burning sensation, or if you notice swelling at the IV site, call a nurse immediately.

Call your child’s doctor or nurse practitioner anytime your child gets a severe rash or is very itchy. Scratching rashes can cause infections, so you need to get medicine to control the itching.

Chemotherapy also affects the growing portion of nails located under the cuticle. After chemotherapy, you may notice a white band or ridge across the nail as it grows out. These brittle bands are sometimes raised and feel bumpy. As the white ridge grows out toward the end of the finger, the nail may break.