How to Manage Skin and Nail-Related Side Effects From Cancer Treatment

Half of patients with cancer who are treated with immunotherapy and targeted therapy experience a skin-related side effect that can affect their quality of life, according to Dr. Anisha Patel, an expert at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Side effects range from skin and nail reactions to hair and foot concerns. “A lot of it is reactions that dermatologists are used to seeing already that oncologists might not be as familiar with,” Patel, an associate professor of dermatology and internal medicine, said in an interview with CURE®. “There are reactions that mimic acne, eczema, psoriasis. Sort of normal skin diseases but associated with these drugs.”

Side effects like these can often compromise patient quality of life and, in some cases, force them to stop treatment. “For example, (sometimes), if you reduce the dose of the drug, the rash gets better,” she said.

Different types of immunotherapy have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat at least 15 cancers, Patel explained. And targeted therapies are also available to treat many of the same malignancies. Sometimes combinations of the therapies are used and that’s when side effect management becomes even more direr. “We’re seeing this more and more with the clinical trials where it’s like the same side effects that you expect to see but they are worse and harder to manage,” Patel said. “In our research and comparing them to patients who are just on one therapy, the side effects are becoming much more of an issue in patients being able to stay on therapies.”

That’s when, she added, supporting teams can play an important role in aiding in side effect management. For instance, patients should clip and file nails, reduce friction and trauma to the hands and feet and don’t mess with their nail cuticles.

“For your feet, try to wear shoes that aren’t pinching, there’s no pressure points,” she said. “It’s usually areas of friction or trauma where the inflammation likes to go. For nails, one of the reactions that we see a lot is inflammation of the nail folds and people will get infection between the skin and the nail plate. Be gentle with how they care for their nails and fingers. So avoid overworking them.”

When it comes to skin concerns, patients can use bland moisturizer and be aware that many of the medications can make them more sensitive to the sun. “Oncologists are getting better at educating patients, (telling them) ‘this drug has sun sensitivity, so be careful with it. This drug could cause problems with your feet, so make sure you have good shoes.’ And I think that’s an important outcome from the research that I do is to be able to educate oncologists and patients upfront, so this doesn’t happen.”

Open communication with the oncology team is crucial, Patel explained. “We don’t want the oncologists to stop treatment without someone who is specialized in that area trying to make it better,” she said. “(Patients should) seek the support of the supporting physicians if they are developing symptoms. It’s important for (them) to be engaged and take control of their care.”