Nail Care During Treatment
Cancer treatment can sometimes make nails, nail beds, and surrounding skin more fragile and prone to infection. Nails may get ridges or even turn thick and discoloured or fall off. The good news is that it is temporary.
Tips to keep your hands and feet healthy:
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Avoid cutting your cuticles. Instead, use cuticle cream to help combat dryness, splitting and hangnails.
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Moisturize with a rich hand cream.
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Keep nails short.
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Wear rubber gloves while doing chores as excessive exposure to water can lead to fungal infection of the nail bed.
Nail Polish and Nail Salons
If you’d like to use polish, soft, neutral shades of pink will lend a healthy- looking finish
Use an oily acetone-free polish remover. Acetone is very drying and can make nail problem worse during treatment
When visiting a salon, make sure the staff has worked with clients undergoing cancer treatment (or at least knows how to take extra precautions to keep you safe and healthy)
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