I had my last chemotherapy on New Year's Eve ,my second surgery in February & start radiotherapy in 2 weeks time, but for the last few weeks my skin has been really itchy & I'm scratching it until it bleeds. Any advice on how to stop the itching please? X
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Debra19
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Hi Debra , I too have had hugely itch skin. Chemo makes your skin so very dry. You certainly need to stop scratching till you bleed as any open scratch or cut can introduce sepsis into your system due to the chemo and low immune system, and believe me, as one who suffered this and spent nearly a month in hospital you do not want that. I fount that E45 unperfumed moisturiser is super. I use it every morning and evening, it is a large bottle but I do take it with me everywhere and I rub it on the itchy, dry spots during the day if needed. It cools and moisturises perfectly. One thing to look out for though - and I am not saying this to worry you, after my second chemo last November, I had this mad itch that started in my feet then travelled to my hands in a matter of hours, the itch was torture and my feet and hands started to swell. This itch spread to my head and face. I looked in the mirror to see my lips and nose were swelling. Then sudden I started to struggle breathing. An ambulance was called and it was discovered that I was having an anaphylactic shock. I was given adrenaline and put on oxygen and was kept in hospital for 48 hours. So do keep an eye out. However that is a rarity. In the meantime moisturise a lot. It will help. All the best Lainey
Stop using everything you normally use on your skin and start again . The chemo changes your body's tolerance levels to a lot of things. Use non bio washing powder and simple products for washing etc . Piriton is great for itching as it's an anti histamine, maybe take it at night to aid sleep
Acqueous cream is great but if that doesnt help mention to you doctor and they should be able you give you something. I stopped eveything perfumed as chemo causes all sorts of weird reaction.
I have had itchy skin, the doctor prescribed E45 Itch Relief Cream and that has worked wonders
I had this problem,and didn't have chemo,or radio treatment,go to your doctor and get either E45 or centrban on prescription(as you won't have to pay for it,)
I got really itchy skin after my radio (January 2016) and still a bit itchy from time to time and a lot of it caused by dry skin. I'm still using an aqueous cream which is kept in the fridge and the cooling effect helps. I also was told to only use products in the Simple range which I'm still doing. Someone else mentioned antihistamine from the Dr which should calm it down. Good luck hunny xx
Hi, tried to leave a comment but think I forgot to press submit. I have been using Aveeno Cream and Aloe Vera they are chemical free and have been working well for me. Hope you get the itch under control soon. Xxx
I am 5 weeks post mastectomy and awaiting chemotherapy and radiotherapy . Am thinking ahead and have changed majority of my products to aloe Vera based products from a company that makes 100% pure stabilised a v products . I am a pharmacist so have researched the market . They are natural and pure without unnecessary perfumes and additives . Message me if you are interested. X
Hi She_pat, thanks for the post, I'm really interested in finding out more about these products. The itching has got really bad now and I'm just making my skin bleed. X
Hi how is the itching? Hope you are a little better. I use aloe Vera gel products and am also a distributor . If yourself or anyone reading this post is interested please contact me . Message me please if only to let me know how you are getting on. X
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