How to Protect Your Skin During Cancer Treatment

The skin is a window to what’s happening inside your body. As the body’s largest organ, it is often one of the first places where the effects of cancer and its treatment show up. 

While some may think of skin care as cosmetic, healthy skin plays an essential role in protecting against infection, maintaining hydration, regulating body temperature, and supporting overall health. 

Cancer treatments can weaken the skin's natural protective barrier. As a result, many people develop skin problems that can interfere with sleep, affect confidence and emotional well-being, make everyday life uncomfortable, and sometimes, become severe enough to require treatment delays to life-saving therapies. 

Luckily, many of these problems can be prevented, or significantly with simple skin care habits started early during cancer treatment, before symptoms develop. New research from Professor Larisa Geskin, MD, skin cancer specialist and dermato-oncologist at Columbia University and member of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC), shows that proactive skin care improves comfort and quality of life and may even help patients stay on their prescribed therapy. Below, she shares what patients should know about incorporating proactive skin care habits during treatment. 

How cancer treatment affects the skin 

Cancer therapies are designed to destroy cancer cells or activate the immune system to fight cancer. Unfortunately, healthy skin cells are often affected as well. 

Chemotherapy commonly causes dry, fragile skin, peeling, cracking, and increased sensitivity to sunlight. Certain drugs, including capecitabine and 5-fluorouracil, can also cause hand-foot syndrome- a painful reaction that leads to redness, swelling, and tenderness of the palms and soles. 

Targeted therapies, including EGFR inhibitors and newer KRAS inhibitors like daraxonrasib, frequently cause acne-like rashes, dry skin, and inflammation. Although these reactions are rarely dangerous, they can be painful and emotionally distressing, particularly when visible on the face and upper body. Immunotherapies, which work by activating the immune system against cancer, may also trigger imflammation leading to rashes, itching, pigment changes, and other immune-related conditions. Radiation therapy primarily affects the treated area, causing redness, peeling, tenderness, and longer-term changes in skin texture and color. 

Many cancer treatments also make the skin more sensitive to the sunlight, meaning even brief sun exposure can cause more severe burns, irritation, and longer to recover times than usual. 

If these symptoms become severe, they can interfere with a person’s cancer treatment delays. Early attention to skin health can prevent complications and keep treatment on track. 

What to look for in skin care products during cancer treatment 

Cancer treatment weakens the skin’s natural barrier, making it easier for moisture to escape and irritants to enter. A simple, daily skin care routine should focus on gentle cleansing, regular moisturization, and sun protection to restore the skin barrier and reduce common skin problems. 

Rather than focusing on specific brands, look for products that contain ingredients known to support health skin, outlined below. 

Gentle cleansing 

Choose mild, fragrance-free, pH-balanced cleansers that help preserve the skin's natural protective barrier. Look for ingredients such as glycerin, panthenol (vitamin B5), and niacinamide, which help maintain hydration and soothe irritated skin. Avoid harsh soaps, products containing alcohol or strong fragrances, exfoliating scrubs, and products with high concentrations of acids unless recommended by your healthcare team. 

Moisturization: rebuilding the skin barrier 

Moisturizers are one of the most important tools for protecting the skin during treatment.  A good moisturizer works in several ways. Humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid draw water into the skin. Emollients, such as squalane, shea butter, and plant oils, soften rough skin and fill tiny cracks between skin cells. Occlusive ingredients, such as petrolatum and dimethicone create a protective layer that reduces water loss and helps keep skin hydrated. Many moisturizers also contain ceramides, naturally occurring lipids that help rebuild the skin’s protective barrier.  Because some cancer treatments reduce the skin’s natural ceramide levels, replacing them may help keep the skin intact. 

For best results, moisturize at least twice a day and always apply within a few minutes after bathing while the skin is damp. 

Sun protection: more than sunscreen 

Many cancer treatments increase sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) light, making sun protection important throughout treatment. Mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are often preferred because they physically block UVA and UVB rays and are generally well tolerated by sensitive skin. New sunscreen options are also available. In 2026, the FDA approved bemotrizinol (BEMT), the first new sunscreen ingredient approved in the U.S. in more than two decades. It is expected to expand sunscreen choices for those with sensitive skin. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher (ideally 50) and reapply every two hours when outdoors. 

Sunscreen is only one layer of sun protection. Wearing wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves, UV-protective clothing, and sunglasses. Seek shade wherever possible, and avoid direct sunlight during peak daytime hours to reduce UV exposure.  

Simple habits that make a difference 

Taking care of your skin is an important part of taking care of yourself during cancer treatment. Small, consistent habits make the biggest impact on comfort, confidence and quality of life. Start skin care early, rather than waiting for problems to appear – and be sure to tell your provider as soon as you notice a new reaction.  

These simple steps can help reduce discomfort, support healing, and allow you to focus your energy on what matters most: your recovery.