Nail Polish with chemo

[Flower2011]

Should you wear dark nail polish while on chemotherapy to protect the nails from light? Just read it somewhere. Had my first session 2 days ago for low grade OC

[Lind58]

Best of luck! I have been keeping my mom's nails polished with dark nail polish to avoid any issues

[Flower2011 in reply to Lind58]

Thank you, I had read that but wasn’t sure as I thought you had to stay off nail polish. I had acrylics for years so hate having stubby little pale nails x

[Chezp]

I kept mine polished but only clear, boring I know but it’s done the trick!

[Cropcrop]

I kept all my nails polished with opaque colours right through chemo, my finger nails were fine, toe nails still not very exciting 4 years on but nobody really sees them so I’m not too bothered. It’s certainly worth a try and the chemo nurses advised it was a good idea and, even though it didn’t always work, it certainly couldn’t hurt. My nails went quite brittle during chemo but I found massaging the cuticles with oil helped a little bit and the pampering was nice

I hope your treatment goes well, you’ve done the first one now which, in my opinion, is the hardest and scariest one because of the unknown.

Good luck lovely ❤️Xx Jane

[Neona]

My nails were ok during chemo but started to crack after I started the clinical trial . I bought some cuticle oil at the chemist- it was amazing- a few days and nails were back to normal.

[OC1985]

I think the main concern is that you do it yourself, or make sure your nail salon has the proper sterilization process and cleans the water and you see the tools come from a steralized sealed bag and not using everyone's files and sissors.

[jenny8c]

When I was on Taxol and carboplatin I was told to have dark nail varnish. I did and my nails were fine. Now I am on Caylex and carboplatin I was told that it didn't matter about my nails so I guess if you are on Taxol then yes have your nails done. I used to have gel on mine so it lasted at least a couple of weeks. I didn't bother with my toe nails as it was the effect of light on the nails that causes the problem so I made sure my toes were covered. Not a problem at this time of year. Good luck. xxxx

[Chick44nzrn]

Hello Flower.. after years of having acrylic false nails I’ve continued to keep them through chemo light dark or any colour mainly because it cheers me up ! So far 3 months later there have been no problems . However I was told not to go ahead with regular nails but decided it’s one thing that Ifeel good with !

Best wishes

Denise x

[Maggiedec in reply to Chick44nzrn]

Denise do you get your nails done still Acrylic I have gel nails and was wondering I was wondering should I just let them go

[Chick44nzrn in reply to Maggiedec]

Hi Maggiedec . Yes I get them done regularly(Acrylic .) I like bright red to feel cheerful , a bit flashy what the hell !!

It’s an antidote against the other stuff , and I’m not going to give up my nails if possible

Thinking of you Maggie . Let us know how you are getting on.

Denise x

[Maus123]

Hi there. Depends a little on the type of chemo you get e. g. whether photosensitivity is a factor.

For carb/tax I didn't get manicures but removed my false nails and applied the following treatment every week: underlying base coat with silicium, two layers of uv-protection polish, also with silicium (black/dark does the trick but proper uv protection varnish could be any colour), then a top coat of choice. All of the products I use are said to be chemo compatible and especially gentle, or something like that. Possibly just a bit more expensive

Try to use no-acetone nail polish remover and avoid even small injuries i. e. no clippers or scissors. Just gentle pushing and file work.

My nails flourished during chemo :). All of my handfull of chemo buddies who didn't bother developed some nail issues. From mild lines to blackening and lifting nails.

Could be coincidence though. I also cooled my hands during Taxol.

All the best with chemo. Maus

[Helentess]

I only used nail polish when going out for special occasions. No one the medical team mentioned that you could or could use nail polish. However after 3 chemo treatments of paxtol & carbo, my nails became very soft. My ono doctor told me take vitamin B6. After a couple of weeks of taking B6, the nails started to harden and grow quickly & long. I had to cut them every 3 weeks and they were so hard to cut with clippers.

Also near the last 3 treatments, my fingernails developed series of horizontal ridges. Doctor said it was a side effect of the chemo drugs and nails would grow back normal once chemo was stopped.

And my husband took B6 as well. He does not have cancer, but had brittle and peeling nails. Now his nails grow longer and harder. B6 worked for me