Chemotherapy treatment is one of the useful treatments to kill cancer cells. But unfortunately, many patients complain because of side effects of this treatment, One of them is dry skin.
Chemotherapy can be difficult, especially because of the side effects it can cause. This treatment has a fairly severe effect on the body, including irritation and dry skin that can occur after chemotherapy treatment. Dry skin can indeed be annoying, especially in chemotherapy patients, who are generally in a weak condition. However, that doesn't mean it can't be solved.
Impact of Chemotherapy Treatment on the Skin
Chemotherapy treatment is done as a step to fight cancer cells that are in the body. The time and dose of chemotherapy are determined according to the type of cancer, health conditions, and the stage of cancer experienced.
One thing that is of concern to chemotherapy treatment is the side effects it causes. Some of the side effects of chemotherapy treatment that are often complained of are hair loss, diarrhea, infection, anemia, constipation, nausea and vomiting, to loss of skin moisture which causes dry skin.
Dry skin is the effect of chemotherapy drugs in the body. When chemotherapy drugs work to kill cancer cells, at the same time these drugs also destroy normal cells throughout the body, including skin cells.
In addition to dry skin, side effects that also occur on the skin due to chemotherapy treatment include:
- redness
- skin rash
- Itch
- acne
In fact, in some other cases, the side effects of chemotherapy can trigger changes in skin color to become darker. Changes in skin color can occur throughout the body, or only in specific locations, such as areas of the body that are more often exposed to sunlight.
Caring for healthy skin after chemotherapy treatment can be done by using the right moisturizing ingredients, as well as applying certain habits, to minimize the effects of dry skin after chemotherapy.
Tips for Caring for the Skin During Chemotherapy Treatment
To keep your skin healthy, and treat skin irritation and dry skin after chemotherapy, you can use a skin moisturizer. The choice of skin moisturizer that can be used is a moisturizer with natural ingredients, such as:
- Phytosterols, namely the type of fat contained in plants. Phytosterols is believed to be good for relieving skin irritation naturally. From a study, phytosterols known to be useful in moisturizing the skin and have an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin. In addition, phytosterols are also useful in reducing wrinkles on the skin and face.
- shea butter, a natural ingredient that is often used in skin care products because it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making it good for skin care. on the other hand Shea butter which is a fat contained in the seeds of the Shea plant, works as a good moisturizer for the skin.
- Vitamin E, it's no secret that vitamin E has very good benefits for the skin. Moisturizers containing vitamin E are believed to have benefits for preventing skin aging. It also protects the skin from the effects of chemicals used in chemotherapy.
To help deal with dry skin problems during or after chemotherapy, there are some daily activities that need to be adjusted, including:
- Drink plenty of water, and eat a balanced nutritious diet, including foods rich in fiber and vitamins that are good for the skin, such as fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid bathing for too long, generally just spend about 10 minutes in the shower.
- Avoid bathing with warm water, because it tends to reduce skin moisture.
- Use a mild, fragrance-free soap.
- Wear clothes that are soft and don't stick to the skin.
- Wash clothes with a mild detergent.
You can also use sunscreen if you want to go out in the hot sun. Sunscreen protects the skin from the effects of ultraviolet rays (UVA and UVB) which can damage the skin's layers and moisture if exposed for too long.
If the problem of dry skin is getting more and more annoying, you should consult with your doctor about the possibility of using drugs to keep your skin healthy after chemotherapy treatment. Although undergoing chemotherapy is hard, it is not impossible to pass it more comfortably. Sufficient knowledge and a strong desire to recover, supported by maximum medical care, will really help you cope with the side effects of chemotherapy treatment properly.
