Hand-foot syndrome
Certain types of chemotherapy drugs can irritate the skin on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. Tell your doctor if you have symptoms of hand-foot syndrome, including:
- Numbness, redness, and tingling, tenderness
- Swelling or pain
- Blisters or open sores
- Peeling skin
- Difficulty walking
Frequent moisturizing of your hands and feet can relieve hand-foot syndrome. The condition goes away when the treatment ends. Your doctor can adjust your chemotherapy dose to relieve the problem.
Nail changes
Certain types of drug therapy can lead to changes in your fingernails or toenails, such as:
- Bruising or blemishes on the nail, or darkening of the nail bed
- Thin, brittle nails
- Dry nail bed and cuticles that may tear
- Ingrown nails
Our recommendations to avoid infection include:
- Keeping your nails clean and dry
- Wearing gloves while doing housework or gardening
- Avoiding biting or tearing at your nails or cuticles
- Keeping your hands and nails moisturized with lotion or cream
For more information, watch a video about Supportive Dermatology at Stanford Health Care.
Published June 2019
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