Skin Rash and Itching

Your cancer treatment can affect your skin. Your doctor or nurse can tell you what to expect. Always let them know about any skin changes. You may experience an itchy rash which can be mild or more severe. If the rash covers more than half of your body, tell your doctor straight away. You usually need steroid creams or tablets to treat it. Your doctor may stop your treatment until the rash improves.

Less commonly, people may have a very severe skin reaction with inflammation of the skin. This can cause peeling skin and a fever (high temperature). If this happens, it is important to contact the hospital straight away.

Remember, even if your symptoms are mild, it is important that you inform your medical team or nurse specialist about your skin rash at your next appointment, even if there is an improvement.

Another skin change to check for is whether your rash fades when it is pressed. If your rash DOES NOT FADE it is called a non-blanching rash and if you think you have this type of rash, please contact the hospital. Please have a look at the video below which shows how to tell if a rash is non-blanching.

Here are some things you can do to look after your skin:

Use lukewarm water and mild, non-scented soap. Oilatum can be used for skin which is sensitive and itchy.

Moisturise your skin every day.

Do not use skincare products that contain alcohol or anti-acne products.

Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands when doing certain things around the house (e.g. cleaning)

Here are some things to avoid:

Avoid long, hot showers and baths.

Avoid laundry detergent with strong perfumes.

Avoid being in direct sunlight between 10 AM and 4 PM.

Protect your skin with a high sun protection factor (SPF) sun cream (no less than factor 30) and cover up in the sun – you may burn more easily than usual and the sun can make symptoms worse.

Some people may get a loss of skin colour (vitiligo) in patches of their skin.

Itching

You can do some simple things to help ease the itching. These things may also help stop itchy skin returning and avoid skin damage from scratching.

Do:

Pat or tap the skin instead of scratching it.

Hold something cool on the skin – like a damp towel.

Have cool or lukewarm baths or showers.

Use unperfumed moisturiser regularly.

Keep your nails clean, short and smooth.

Wear loose cotton clothing.

Avoid:

Wearing tight clothes made of wool or some synthetic fabrics.

Having long baths or showers – keep them to less than 20 minutes.

Perfumed soaps, deodorants or moisturisers.

Eating spicy foods or drink alcohol and caffeine – these can make itching worse.

Treatment for itching

There are various treatments that can help with itching caused by cancer and its treatment. They aim to treat or soothe the itch.

Antihistamines

Our immune system produces histamine to protect us from illness. Sometimes the body produces too much histamine, causing itching, redness and swelling. Antihistamines block the action of histamine in the body. They can help to reduce itching, but don’t work for everyone.

Your doctor can prescribe antihistamines. There are many different types and they may give you some relief.

Anti-depressant medicines

Some types of anti-depressant medicines can help to reduce itching. They act like an antihistamine and also help you relax. They can work well for itching due to nerve irritation, such as peripheral neuropathy. Anti-depressants used for itching include Amitriptyline, Imipramine and Paroxetine.

Steroids

Steroids can help and they come either as creams you put on to your skin or as tablets. You can buy low dose steroid cream over the counter from the chemist but your doctor needs to prescribe the higher dose creams and tablets. You usually only have steroids for a short time because they can cause side effects if you take them for too long.

Complementary therapies

Some people find that complementary therapies, such as music therapy, gentle foot massage, relaxation exercises or guided visualisation can help to distract them from the itching.