The skin and skincare
The skin is our largest organ. It contains a complex arrangement of cells including the dermis or top layer, epidermis or middle layer and the bottom or fatty layer known as hypodermis. It is also associated with a wide range of associated structures such as cuticles, nails, hair follicles, sweat glands, oil glands, lymphatic vessels and blood vessels. The skin also has many functional roles and includes insulation, protection, anti-bactericidal, sense of touch and aesthetics. Since the skin is the organ most in contact with the external environment through touch, abrasion and temperature control, its cells need to be renewed daily. In fact, the epidermis replaces the 40,000 old skins cells that are shed from your skin every day and is renewed every 30 days.
Many Cancer treatments target the rapidly dividing cancer cells. However, except for targeted agents, most chemotherapies, while mostly affecting the cancer cells, also affect other rapidly dividing cells in the body, and this includes the skin. Chemotherapy may cause the skin to peel, darken, dry out and become itchy both during and for several months after treatment (Cancer Council NSW, 2024). The nails may also change and become darker, develop ridges and white lines, become brittle and lift from the nail beds (Cancer Council NSW, 2024). Radiation, like the sun can also cause the loss of skin elasticity.
There are several ways in which you can look after your skin and nails both during and after chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Some of the strategies for taking care of you skin, nails AND hair include:
- The use of a soap-free wash when showering.
- Use of daily moisturising lotion and creams containing urea to manage dryness.
- Wearing loose, non-restrictive soft-cotton clothing.
- Use of mild cloth detergent.
- Avoidance of shaving or waxing skin until it is healed.
- Protection of skin from the sun using both clothing and SPF 50+ sun screens.
- The avoidance of chlorinated swimming pools (Cancer Council NSW, 2024).
- Drinking two to three litres of water daily.
- Having short warm showers rather than hot ones.
- Avoidance of cutting cuticles.
- Wearing rubber gloves when washing dishes and doing housework.
- Avoiding the use of artificial nails and keep them short (ICON Cancer Centre, 2025).
- Using a gentle shampoo on eve of sessions and then wait until 4 to 5 days later to wash again
Apart from what has been mentioned above, Bloomhill nurses can give you some suggestions with caring for your skin. At Bloomhill we have a number of resources that can help in this area.
The face and facial treatments.
The face is the first thing we see when meeting people. Because the face is so prominent and has a significant amount of skin and hair, it is greatly affected by cytotoxic treatments. During treatment, the skin can thin, blotch and swell altering your appearance. Facial skin care is important.
Specialised facial moisturisers and creams can dramatically support the facial skin care. To help with restoring and maintain the skin integrity before, during and after treatment see below for tips for looking after the face, in spite of the trauma that it may be subject to during treatment. These include suggestions:
- For a moisturising the skin:
- Massage the skin twice daily with moisturising cream.
- Spray skin with thermal water mist before make-up application..
- To reduce the signs of fatigue:
- Use a skin tone corrector or a concealer to fade out dark under-eye circles.
- Don’t overload the eye with colours because excessive makeup texture may add weight to the fine skin and wrinkle it.
Touch therapies can also assist with caring for the facial skin. The Bloomhill oncology therapist specialises in skin treatments that can assist with repair and maintaining the vital integrity of your facial skin and also can also personalise your massage treatments with the use of special oils and creams all while considering the special needs of your skin sensitivity as you move through and past treatment.
References
Cancer Council NSW. (2024). Skin and nail changes. https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/cancer-information/cancer-treatment/chemotherapy/side-effects/skin-and-nail-changes/
Cleveland Clinic. (2025). Skin. Cleveland, Ohio. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/10978-skin
ICON Cancer Centres. (2025). Skin and nail changes. https://iconcancercentre.com.au/cancer-patients/chemotherapy-side-effects/skin-and-nail-changes/
LaRoche Posay. Taking care of my skin.
Hemsworth, B., Hemsworth, C., & Richmond, S. A. (2024). Nonsurgical medical aesthetics and patient quality of life: A umbrella review. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, 6, 1—6. https://academic.oup.com/asjopenforum/article/doi/10.1093/asjof/ojae096/7849867
LaRoche Posay. Taking care of my skin.
Please contact our Nurses on 07 5445 5794 or [email protected] if you have any questions.
All information provided by Bloomhill is mainly based on research from the Qld Cancer Council and best practice guidelines. Our model of care utilizes the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) domains of wellness along with available clinical evidence. Always consult your care team regarding matters that affect your health. This is a guide intended for information only.
