How can I relieve dry, itchy skin during cancer treatment?

Cancer treatments can make skin dry and itchy, and there are gentle steps that may help. First, talk with your health care team about whether you should manage this at home, since the right advice depends on your treatment.

To prevent or treat dry, itchy skin, the article suggests avoiding products that list alcohol or fragrance as an ingredient, because they can dry or irritate the skin. Your nurse may suggest adding colloidal oatmeal to your baths, which can reduce itching. Take short showers or baths in lukewarm, not hot, water. After drying off, apply a skin cream or ointment recommended by your nurse while your skin is still a little damp. For itchy spots, you can apply a cool washcloth or ice.

Using recommended creams or lotions to moisturize also helps keep skin from becoming dry and itchy, which matters because irritated skin can become infected. Because the best products and steps vary by treatment, ask your health care team which soaps, lotions, and ointments to use. If itching is severe, your team can advise you further.