Chemotherapy for breast cancer treatment can have a wide variety of side effects, depending on the type of chemo you receive, your dosage, and how your body responds to it. Some people worry about these side effects before they even start therapy.

One possible side effect of chemo is sores or rashes on your skin, along with other skin or nail changes that can cause pain or discomfort. If you experience these, you will want to treat them effectively to help maintain your health and quality of life during breast cancer treatment. Here’s what you need to know so you can find the best way to treat chemo skin sores.

Chemo and Rashes

Chemotherapy, or chemo, is a medication or combination of medications you may be given to try to eradicate the cancer cells from your body. It comes with a variety of common side effects, several of which pertain to your skin. Most people will not experience every side effect, but being aware of them can help you know what to expect and how to cope if they do arise.

Chemo can make your skin become dry and itch or peel. It can also cause photosensitivity — an increased sensitivity to the sun and ultraviolet (UV) light. The color of your skin may also change, either all over your body or only in some locations. All of these changes can be mistaken for rashes. If dry skin or a sunburn peels, it can also cause sores.

Chemo can cause a variety of rashes and skin changes, as well as skin irritation, all of which can be mistaken for rashes. You might develop painful, itchy papulopustular eruptions — rash along with papules (small, raised pimples) and pustules (small pus-filled blisters). Some people develop hand-foot syndrome, where their hands and feet hurt, swell, change color (either red or a darker shade, depending on skin tone), and possibly tingle. Skin reactions from chemo can occur anywhere on your body, though some types of rashes are more common in different areas of the body.

Some MyBCTeam members have experienced chemo rashes, like one who said, “I have a chemo rash on hands, arms, feet, and face. I received a script for a steroid cream — it helps a little with burning and itching, but the rash is still terrible.”

Another explained, “I’m halfway through my Taxol, and this week I have a rash on part of both hands and the outside of both feet. It almost looks like a burn.”

You may also experience an allergic reaction to one or more of your chemotherapy drugs that shows up as a rash or sores. These reactions can become life-threatening, so it’s important to talk to your doctor so they can help you make wise decisions about preparing for your next chemo treatment with antihistamines or by changing medications.

Because chemotherapy can affect your immune system, open sores may become infected more easily. Thus, it’s important to report any skin changes to your oncologist as soon as you notice them.

How To Manage Skin Sores From Chemo

There are a number of things you can do to manage skin sores and rashes related to chemotherapy. You may have to try several of these before you find what works best for you. Make sure you don’t give up if something doesn’t work, because you deserve to be as comfortable as possible during your chemo treatment.

1. Talk to Your Health Care Provider

As soon as you realize you have a rash, sores, or other skin changes, reach out to your oncology team. They should be able to examine and identify the rash and determine what’s causing it. If they don’t think the rash is from chemo or they aren’t sure, they may send you to a dermatologist or recommend a dermatology provider for further testing.

Your oncologist can also provide medications or treatments that can help alleviate the rash or reduce the amount of uncomfortable itching, swelling, and pain. If they think the rash is potentially harmful, they may offer further testing and support to figure out what’s going on with your body.

If your rash or sores become infected or if you develop excessive inflammation, your doctor may prescribe a course of oral antibiotics. These will help with the inflammation and will aid your body in fighting back against any infection that might be causing your discomfort.

2. Apply Topical Remedies

Once you’ve talked to your doctor, you can try a wide variety of topical (applied to the skin) remedies that may help you feel better. These include corticosteroids and lotions to help with dryness, itching, and more.

One MyBCTeam member found that topical remedies helped quite a bit. They said, “I used this cream called HydraGuard (my husband is a nurse and got it from the hospital), but something like A&D cream or as someone else said, Desitin, should help.”

Most topical remedies need to be applied regularly, and it’s important to follow the directions on the packaging. Doing so will help ensure you get the most out of them. If you’re using a prescription topical remedy, make sure you don’t apply it more frequently or in larger quantities than your prescription states. Too much of some treatments can cause other problems, which you don’t want to deal with while on chemotherapy.

3. Protect Yourself From the Sun

Whether or not you think the sun is causing your rash or sores, try to stay out of it during the hottest part of the day (usually the late afternoon) to protect your skin while you’re on chemotherapy. Doing so will make sure that sun exposure doesn’t cause your skin to get any worse.

If you can’t stay out of the sun during the hottest hours, take action to protect yourself. Cover up with comfortable, breathable clothing, sunglasses, and a hat. Wear sunscreen on any exposed skin with an SPF of at least 30 and reapply it regularly, especially if going swimming. Make sure the sun doesn’t have a chance to cause rashes or make existing ones any worse.

4. Avoid Products That Irritate

Your skin may become more sensitive to the products you use in everyday life when you’re on chemo. All sorts of personal care products, including deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, soaps, and lotions, could become irritating, especially if they contain dyes, fragrances, or other chemicals known to annoy the skin.

Other things that can aggravate your skin include detergents, cleaning agents, certain fabrics, adhesives, and plants. If you think anything might be making your rash or sores worse, try eliminating it for a few days. If your skin doesn’t improve, try something else.

Not all people on chemotherapy will be able to control their rashes by avoiding everyday irritants. If your rash persists or keeps coming back, though, it might be worth it to figure out if something is triggering it.

5. Moisturize Daily

Even if your skin is sensitive and broken out in a rash or sores, try to moisturize it every day. Find a gentle product (or ask your doctor for one) that won’t irritate your skin or any existing rash. Apply it as soon as you get out of the bath or shower, while your skin is still moist, to get the most out of it.

Moisturizer may not be enough to keep your skin from breaking out in a rash or in sores, but it can make struggling skin feel better. If you feel like your skin needs more moisture than you can get from over-the-counter products, talk to your health care team about getting a prescription for something stronger.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyBCTeam — the social network for people with breast cancer and their loved ones — more than 64,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with breast cancer.

Are you wondering how to manage skin sores or other skin reactions from chemo? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.