Daily skin care habits and the risk of skin eruptions and symptoms in cancer patients

Abstract

Background: Cancer patients are at high risk for skin problems because rapidly proliferating skin cells are susceptible to anticancer therapies. However, the effects of daily skin care habits on development of skin problems in cancer patients have rarely been studied.

Patients and methods: We conducted a survey of daily skin care habits and the presence of skin problems in 866 cancer patients.

Results: Hot water bath>1 h significantly increased the risk of definite eruptions [odds ratio (OR) 4.09] and the risk of itching or pain on the skin (OR 1.73). Diligent use of moisturizers did not decrease the risk of definite eruptions and symptoms, and daily bathing, scrubbing off the skin while bathing, and sun protection did not influence the risk of definite eruptions and symptoms. Subgroup analysis of 183 breast cancer patients showed results similar to the total results, including that hot water bath>1 h significantly increased the risk of definite eruptions (OR 3.41).

Conclusions: Being a cross-sectional study, our study could not prove causality. However, at the present stage of knowledge, avoidance of hot water baths of protracted duration should be first emphasized in patient education to prevent skin problems in cancer patients.