Nails
What happens to nails during treatment?
Chemotherapy medications affect the rapidly growing stem cells in the fingernails, nail beds, and toenails.
Usually these changes are self limited and resolve after treatment. See below for what changes you may see and how to prevent them.
Learn more about nail products here.
Nail changes during treatment
Brittle Nails
Nails can become very fragile and thin during treatment, and more prone to breakage and tearing.
Onycholysis
Onycholysis occurs when nails separate from the nail bed. This can happen secondary to sun exposure (photo-onycholysis) as certain chemotherapy medications may interact with UV light.
Color changes
Nails may turn dark red or white during treatment.
Beau's lines
Grooves or lines may appear in nails and may remain for several months following treatment. These lines represent a scar in the nail matrix from trauma or treatment.
Neuropathy
Although not a specific nail sign, pain and tingling can occur in hands and feet during and after treatment secondary to the affects of chemotherapy on the distal nerves.
Nail shedding
Nails may shed secondary to side effects from certain chemotherapy drugs.
Can I prevent nail changes?
Icing your hands and feet can be very helpful during chemotherapy treatment.
Talk with your doctor if icing might be right for you. Icing your hands and feet during treatment with taxanes (taxol, taxotere) can help to decrease nail changes and possibly neuropathy.
Icing needs to be done carefully to prevent frostbite and over cooling the hands and feet, as this may cause further damage to the hands and feet.
How does icing work?
Icing works by constricting blood vessels in the hands and feet to decrease blood flow of chemotherapy to these areas during infusion.
Who shouldn't ice their hands and feet?
Those that have pre-existing circulation issues such as Raynaud's and scleroderma, peripheral vascular disesase should speak with their oncologist first before icing.
How do I ice my hands and feet during infusion?
Icing can be done in many ways. I used a bowl full of ice water and rubber gloves. I began icing 15 min prior, during, and 15 min after taxotere infusion with frequent breaks. For my feet, I used natra care socks and changed the ice pack every 10 min.
See below for products available for icing.
Products for icing hands and feet
Natra Cure ice booties
Elasto mitt gel mittens
Elasto mitt gel mittens
Ice packs are put in the front of the booties and rotated to keep cool. A timer is helpful to keep track.
Elasto mitt gel mittens
Elasto mitt gel mittens
Elasto mitt gel mittens
These can get a little pricey as they are sold as individual mittens. I found these to be a little large for me but they worked well for many of my friends!
What can I do to manage my symptoms?
Cut nails short.
Trimming nails short with smooth edges helps prevent tearing and breaking of fragile nails.
Keep fingernails, toenails and skin moisturized.
keeping skin moisturized can help sensitive, dry hands and feet.
Wear soft padded shoes and socks.
Avoid manicures and hot water on your hands and feet.
Wear gloves while doing chores.
Avoid picking and biting at fragile nails.
Recommended nail moisturizers and products
Elon Nail conditioner
CereVe Healing ointment
CereVe Healing ointment
CereVe Healing ointment
CereVe Healing ointment
CereVe Healing ointment
Great for dry cracked nails
ISDIN SI Nails
CereVe Healing ointment
Cutemol hand moisturizer
Helps to strengthen and hydrate nails
Cutemol hand moisturizer
Neutrogena Norwegian Hand formula
Cutemol hand moisturizer
Neutrogena Norwegian Hand formula
Neutrogena Norwegian Hand formula
Neutrogena Norwegian Hand formula
Helps to hydrate skin
CND cuticle oil
Neutrogena Norwegian Hand formula
Neutrogena Norwegian Hand formula
Helps to hydrate cuticles
Amlactin foot repair
Aveeno Cracked skin relief
Amlactin foot repair
great for dry cracked heels
Bare 40
Aveeno Cracked skin relief
Amlactin foot repair
great for dry cracked heels
Aveeno Cracked skin relief
Aveeno Cracked skin relief
Aveeno Cracked skin relief
great for dry cracked skin on hands and heels