Hair loss, brittle nails, weakened skin… cancer treatments can lead to physical or mental pain. Here is how to prevent or tame these side effects, to regain self-confidence.
Oncological treatments can be local (surgery, localized radiotherapy) or systemic (chemotherapyhormone therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies). “However, systemic treatments act on the whole body”, explains Doctor Markéta Saint Aroman, pharmaceutical and dermocosmetics medical director for Pierre Fabre laboratories. “They pass through the bloodstream and enter all cells of the body, not just anarchic cancerous cells. They can therefore cause cardiac, ophthalmic, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, oral and skin side effects.
These Side effects are characterized by weakening of the nails and skin of the body, face, hands and feet, with severe dryness, itching, tightness and scaling, and loss of hair, eyelashes and eyebrows. “This skin toxicity affects more than 30% of patients in the case of immunotherapies, from 18 to 72% for chemotherapy and reaches 75 to 90% in the case of targeted therapies. adds Dr. Marketa Saint Aroman.
Radiotherapy, instructions for use
The radiotherapy care cause burns and radiation dermatitis, it is therefore essential to:
- Do not apply cream to the irradiated area within 6 hours before the session, it could aggravate the effects of radiation.
- Make thermal water compresses to relieve overheating after the session (or when getting dressed, under your clothes).
- Apply twice a day to the irradiated areas, for the duration of the treatment and up to 4 weeks later, a healing cream. It improves comfort and participates in the repair of the skin.
Reconcile with your body thanks to socio-aesthetic workshops
Socio-aesthetics has been part of the patient journey in oncology since 2003, when it was included in measure 42 of the Cancer Plan. This care is offered either within oncology departments, or in places opened by associations, and by certain socio-estheticians who come to your home.
Onco-estheticians are trained in the specifics of the disease and its consequences. The management is global, in order to reduce the cutaneous effects of the treatments, to no longer “look sick” and come to terms with your body and image. Individual and collective workshops address the adverse effects on the skin and appendages, the right gestures to take care of your skin, hair loss and hair prostheses, how to tie your scarf, put on make-up, recreate your eyebrows, find the lingerie adapted after an ablation/reconstruction, but also provide care (back and body massages, facial and scalp care, hands and feet)…
Our Experts:
- Dr. Marketa Saint Aroman, pharmaceutical and dermocosmetics medical director of Pierre Fabre laboratories
- Joëlle Nonni, head of the skin health education workshops at the Avène thermal baths
- Christelle Guillet, head of the pomade workshop at the La Roche Posay spa center
- Adrian Coelho, hairdresser, founder of the Very Confidential salon (Paris)
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We avoid anything that can irritate
For this weakened skin, we prefer a dermatological bar or hypoallergenic syndet, at physiological pH, tested under dermatological control. Even better, cleansing oils can also be used on the face and scalp. Also be careful with water that is too hot or too cold. Similarly, avoid anything that can cause irritation or a reaction: bubble bath, exfoliation, glove, sponge or shower flower. And we dry ourselves by dabbing with our towel, without rubbing ourselves. For the face, we choose a physiological make-up remover that we rinse with lukewarm water if necessary. Beware of micellar water, which can dry out the skin.
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We constantly nourish our skin
Hydration restores the skin’s barrier function, restores its suppleness and above all soothes it. You must apply moisturizing and nourishing cream or balm, morning and evening, from head to toe. On very dry areas, surgical scars, folliculitis and acneiform rashes, a healing cream (Cicalfate+, CicaplastB5+, etc.) is used. The lips also dry out strongly and must be treated repeatedly, with a cold-cream lip balm, making it stick out around the edges. And as soon as you have discomfort or itching, you don’t hesitate to apply thermal water as a compress.
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We change our care products
We adopt treatments adapted to ultra-sensitive skin, found in dermocosmetic brands (Avène, La Roche Posay, SVR, Bioderma, etc.) or displaying their hypoallergenicity tested on sensitive skin. We favor the shortest formulas, without perfume and if possible without preservatives. And beware of products with alcohol or essential oils! They are to be avoided, such as perfume, talc and sensitizing molecules (retinol, fruit acids). The structure of the ingredients must be close to the lipids of the stratum corneum, such as ceramides and shea butter. Finally, the texture must be easy to spread so as not to irritate the skin.
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We take care of our nails
The treatments weaken the nails which become soft, brittle, split, hyper- or hypopigmented. The edges of the nail can also become inflamed. In prevention, we file the nails, but not too short, we do not cut the cuticles. Oncologists recommend applying a fortifying, dark-tinted nail polish before radiotherapy and chemotherapy to prevent UV staining the nails.
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Prevent hand-foot syndrome
The palms of the hands and soles of the feet, devoid of sebaceous glands, can see the appearance, especially in chemotherapy, of redness, swelling and fissures. To prevent it, frequently apply hyper-nourishing, fragrance-free skincare products and wear cotton gloves to protect hands, in daily activities and even under plastic gloves when using detergents. And we avoid prolonged contact with water. In case of thickening of the skin, one can have recourse to pedicure care by a professional. And we elevate the legs as often as possible.
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Choose your wig well
Since 2019, wigs have been partially reimbursed by Health Insurance (€350 for synthetic wigs, €250 for those partly made of real hair, provided that they do not exceed €700). I recommend choosing a wig that’s not too expensive, but with real hair, and taking it to your hairdresser to get a nice cut, adapted and made to measure, explains Adrien Coelho. But, with a scalp that has become sensitive, they sometimes cause itching. The alternative: scarves and turbans.
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We take care of the hair during regrowth
Hair regrowth takes place 3 to 6 months after the end of the treatments. Often the hair has changed in nature, is drier or on the contrary soft like baby hair, curly or sparkling. These return to their original nature after one year. “During this year, we prefer vegetable colorings, without ammonia and without peroxide”, recommends the hairdresser.
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We protect ourselves from the sun… for life
Skin attacked by treatments is all the more sensitive to UV rays. It must be protected as much as possible by wearing wide-brimmed clothing and hats, and with SPF 50+ sun protection. In the case of radiotherapy, chronic radiodermatitis may appear several years after treatment has been stopped. It is therefore imperative to protect yourself throughout your life.
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