As if hair loss and diarrhea weren’t enough, side effects from medications that are used duringcancer treatmentmay cause chemo acne or rashes on the face and body.Chemo acne can range from mild to severe. But regardless of its severity, it can be a source of low self-esteem during treatment, especially since it can be trickier to conceal than other side effects like hair loss.
The good news is that with your healthcare provider’s guidance, chemo acne can be managed with both over-the-counter and prescription medications.
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Why Chemo Causes Acne
The cause of chemo acne during cancer treatment is often a combination of factors. Chemotherapy drugs, medications that are used to treat side effects of chemotherapy, and steroids can all cause chemo acne to develop.
While chemo acne can appear anywhere on the body, the face and scalp are areas where chemo acne most often develops in people with cancer. It usually occurs within days of having chemotherapy or within days of taking certain medications.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop sudden itching or your skin breaks out in hives after undergoing chemotherapy. This could be an allergic reaction and may warrant medical attention right away.
Treatments
While chemo rash may be similar in appearance to regular acne, it is treated differently. Treatment for chemo acne depends on a few different factors, such as the type of chemo acne, its location, and its severity.
The first step in treating your chemo acne during cancer treatment is to discuss it with your healthcare provider. In some cases, you may be referred to a dermatologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions that are related to the skin.
Tips for Taking Care of Your Skin
Be sure to check with your healthcare provider before adding or removing any products from your skin care regimen.
A Word From Verywell
The big picture here is that if you experience a rash or another dermatological reaction like peeling or redness after receiving cancer treatment likechemotherapyor radiation therapy, be sure to call your oncology nurse or oncologist to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
If you are concerned that you may develop chemo acne during cancer treatment, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider. They can tell you whether any of your prescribed medications, including chemotherapy, are known to cause skin conditions like chemo acne and what can be done to help prevent it and treat it if it does occur.
Frequently Asked QuestionsA chemo acne-like rash may appear with some chemotherapy medications, like Tarceva or other EGFR inhibitors.Your healthcare provider should monitor severe skin reactions from chemotherapy or radiation, especially if the chemo acne lasts for more than two weeks. Your treatment plan may be adjusted to allow the skin to heal and prevent the risk of infection.There are treatment options your healthcare provider may prescribe, depending on the severity of the skin issue.Radiation can irritate the skin and cause a rash, but not necessarily acne.It’s important to consult your oncologist or a dermatologist if you develop a rash where you’re receiving radiation.
Frequently Asked Questions
A chemo acne-like rash may appear with some chemotherapy medications, like Tarceva or other EGFR inhibitors.
Your healthcare provider should monitor severe skin reactions from chemotherapy or radiation, especially if the chemo acne lasts for more than two weeks. Your treatment plan may be adjusted to allow the skin to heal and prevent the risk of infection.There are treatment options your healthcare provider may prescribe, depending on the severity of the skin issue.
Radiation can irritate the skin and cause a rash, but not necessarily acne.It’s important to consult your oncologist or a dermatologist if you develop a rash where you’re receiving radiation.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Barton-burke M, Ciccolini K, Mekas M, Burke S.Dermatologic reactions to targeted therapy: a focus on epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors and nursing care.Nurs Clin North Am. 2017;52(1):83-113. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2016.11.005Cubero DIG, Abdalla BMZ, Schoueri J, et al.Cutaneous side effects of molecularly targeted therapies for the treatment of solid tumors.Drugs Context. 2018;7:212516. doi:10.7573/dic.212516Owczarczyk-saczonek A, Witmanowski H, Placek W.Acneiform rash during lung cancer therapy with erlotinib (Tarceva(®)).Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2013;30(3):195-198. doi:10.5114/pdia.2013.35624American Cancer Society.Targeted therapy side effects.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to care for your skin before and after radiation therapy.
Barton-burke M, Ciccolini K, Mekas M, Burke S.Dermatologic reactions to targeted therapy: a focus on epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors and nursing care.Nurs Clin North Am. 2017;52(1):83-113. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2016.11.005
Cubero DIG, Abdalla BMZ, Schoueri J, et al.Cutaneous side effects of molecularly targeted therapies for the treatment of solid tumors.Drugs Context. 2018;7:212516. doi:10.7573/dic.212516
Owczarczyk-saczonek A, Witmanowski H, Placek W.Acneiform rash during lung cancer therapy with erlotinib (Tarceva(®)).Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2013;30(3):195-198. doi:10.5114/pdia.2013.35624
American Cancer Society.Targeted therapy side effects.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to care for your skin before and after radiation therapy.
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