Find a Doctor

Email | Print | Font: Change font size to small (12 pixel high text.) Change font size to medium (14 pixel high text.) Change font size to large (16 pixel high text.) Home > Clinical Services > Cancer > Ask the Oncology Pharmacy

Skin Care and EGFR Chemotherapy

What should cancer patients know about skin care when taking EGFR-type chemotherapy?

Ask the Oncology Pharmacy

Chemotherapy medications such as panitumumab (Vectibix®), cetuximab (Erbitux®), and erlotinib (Tarceva®) are agents that inhibit (block) endothelial growth factor receptor or EGFR.  These drugs selectively target rapidly dividing cells, like cancer cells, and are used for certain types of cancer.  Unfortunately, because your normal skin cells also divide rapidly, these agents often come with unwanted skin reactions.  Symptoms you may experience include: dry skin, rash, acne around the upper body and face, and itching.  Here are a few recommendations to help manage these side effects:

Avoid:

  1. Perfumed products
  2. Bubble bath
  3. Soap-free cleansing bars, these can be drying and potentially irritating.
  4. Acne-related treatments, including products with benzoyl peroxide.
  5. Lanolin-based creams, lotions, ointments etc.
  6. Anything that you think you might be allergic to.
  7. Avoid sun exposure.  Wear SPF 15 (or higher) sunblock, a hat and protective clothing.

Skin Care:

  1. Frequent application of lotions such as Nivea®, Aveeno®, Lubriderm®, Aquaphor®, or Keri® lotion.
  2. Bath oils such as baby oil, mineral oil, Herbal Bath Oil, Lubriderm Bath Oil, or Neutrogena Body Oil can be applied to your wet skin after you emerge from the bath or shower.
  3. Do not use creams, lotions, ointments or other products that contain lanolin (i.e. Oil of Olay).
  4. Cool compresses applied to area for 20 minutes as needed to provide soothing relief.
  5. If desired, apply a dermatologist-approved makeup to cover the rash.

Fluids:

  1. Drink plenty of fluids to keep your body well hydrated.  This is very important in reducing dry skin or itching.
  2. You should drink 2-3 quarts of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages daily, unless you are instructed to restrict your fluid intake.

Personal Hygiene: 

  1. Use mild, non-perfumed, non-deodorant soaps such as Dove, Basis, Cetaphil, Aveeno or Neutrogena dry skin soaps. 
  2. Take short lukewarm showers or cool baths instead of long, hot baths.
  3. Moisturize your skin immediately after showering or bathing, while it is still damp.
  4. Dry yourself by patting your skin with a soft towel, rather than rubbing vigorously.
  5. Shaving for men - if dry skin reactions occurs on your face, skip a couple of days (over a weekend?) to give your face a rest.  Do not use perfumed after-shave.
  6. Shaving for women - if after shaving your legs a rash appears do not shave again until the skin has completely healed.

Clothes:

  1. Wear cotton clothes where possible next to the skin, rather than wool, synthetic fibers or rough clothing.
  2. Wash clothes in mild detergent such as Ivory Snow® or Dreft®

Over the counter medications:

  1. Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) and loratidine (Claritin®) may help relieve the itching.
  2. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) may be useful to relieve any pain.

When to call your doctor or health care professional about skin reactions:

  1. Swelling, chest pain or difficulty breathing (signs of an allergic reaction). Seek help immediately and notify your health care professional.
  2. Fever of 100.5º F (38º C) or higher, chills (possible signs of infection).
  3. Unexplained or worsening skin rash.
  4. Itching, pain or other troubling symptoms accompanying a rash.
  5. Rash affecting the mucous membranes in the mouth or nose.
  6. Any blistering, peeling, open areas in the skin.
  7. If you suspect an infection in the skin or nails.