Any top tips to help repair chemo induced dry and cracking skin on hands and feet?

[Snowstorm]

Am asking on behalf of my mother. She's been taken off the chemo and put on antibiotics in order to try and resolve the problem with her feet but now she's having problems with the skin splitting on her hands too and her fingers are getting very sore.

TIA.

[SeamstressfromTreacleMineRoad]

Not in the same league, but I've got very, very dry skin, and O'Keefe's Working Hands Cream and Healthy Feet Cream is the best thing that I've ever used - worth a try?

www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_7?url=search-alias%3Ddrugstore&field-keywords=o%27keefes%20working%20hands&sprefix=o%27keefe%2Caps%2C258&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Snowstorm]

Anything is worth a try - thanks very much!

[SeamstressfromTreacleMineRoad]

My very best to your Mum - and to you

[Snowstorm]

Am going to order some and send it to her.

[GunShotResidue]

My mum found that the Avon Glycerine hand cream was really good, she had sensitive skin anyway and chemo made it worse. This was one of the only things that she didn't react to.

it's horrible when a parent is ill

[CMOTDibbler]

Flexitol hand or foot cream is very good and designed for cracking skin. Really lay it on thickly, then cover in cotton socks and gloves (from Boots in the first aid section) and leave overnight

[StayGold]

Hi was given this by the radiotherapy team, but was told is fab for chemo related dry skin too ...

www.amazon.co.uk/Udderly-Smooth-Moisturiser-Moisturising-Psoriasis/dp/B000LNQ90Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1456157644&sr=8-2&keywords=udder%20cream&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Moo goo Udder cream is fab too but more expensive, (I like the thickness of this one)

moogooskincare.co.uk

Hope she finds some relief soon

[Snowstorm]

Thank you Seamstress.

GunShotResidue and CMOTDibbler - thank you for your suggestions - will forward them to her as Plan Bs. She does already layer something on thickly overnight and put gloves on, but her hands seem to be continuing to crack.

I think she's on a pretty high dose of chemo as she's got secondary cancer but they've had to stop it for the moment as her feet are an absolute mess - she's having to go to A&E to get them sorted - I won't even begin to go into detail because it makes me feel a bit sick even thinking about it ... thank god for nurses and doctors and people with stronger stomachs!

[Snowstorm]

Thank you StayGold - that's the stuff she's been using on her feet but they still dried and cracked and are now having to be lanced and she's on antibiotics but I'm not sure they're working.

[Lilymaid]

Presume she has got Palmar-Plantar (hand-foot syndrome).
I've used most of the creams suggested here - Moo Goo and Udderly are recommended by most Oncology wards. I also use Flexitol (which also contains a high dosage of urea) on my feet and the hand creams I have used include Aveeno (hand cream not moisturising cream); Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Handcream; Crabtree & Evelyn's Gardener's Remedy and also a layer of Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter.
Lots of people recommend "sealing" any cream with a layer of Vaseline on top.
Socks (thin trainer socks) for feet and gloves also help keep in the moisture.
Is she also prescribed Pyridoxine (Vit B6 which is supposed to help)?

[Snowstorm]

I haven't heard that term before Lilymaid - but thank you for the message - I'm not sure about the Pyridoxine either but I think she is having Vit B6 in some shape or form - I'm going to copy and paste your reply and everyone else's and email them to her so that she can go through the suggestions and see if there's anything she hasn't yet tried.

and for all you ... seeing as it's just a little bit too early for .

[Snowstorm]

Just had a Google Lilymaid and yes, that's what she's got (I recognise her cancer drug from the list of chemo drugs most likely to cause Palmar-Plantar too).

[member]

Flexitol good but about 25% urea, I would see if she could get a 40-50% urea cream on prescription. They are available to buy but pricey given amount she will need.

[Whotookmyruler]

Also not in the same league, but I have very dry skin - I think Aveeno is very good. I also like the macadamia nut oil hand and foot moisturising packs (I get them from Amazon but I am sure you can get elsewhere) - they are lovely

[Whotookmyruler]

I also use flexitol as well

[Snowstorm]

Thanks Member. Whotookmyruler - yes, I've got dry skin and am a big fan of Aveeno cream, which I've used on me and my DC when they were little dry babies. I think she needs something a bit stronger than that at the moment though. Will look into the hand/foot moisturising packs - they sound interesting.

[MadisonMontgomery]

What about trying a pure oil - coconut or olive oil or something, then sealing it in with Vaseline & gloves/socks on top?

[Snowstorm]

Sounds slippy!!

[MadisonMontgomery]

Haha yeah, maybe wear grippy socks or something!

[Wolpertinger]

If she's got good going Palmar Plantar all she can do is keep going with a high urea content cream like the Flexitol and wait for the dead skin to fall off. You can't rehydrate the dead skin back on IYSWIM and eventually it all just peels off, sometimes in great big sheets. Then take very good care of the skin underneath which will be very very soft and pink.

Her chemo team will be monitoring and will possibly give her longer breaks between chemo or lower doses of it given she's reacted this badly this time.

[Snowstorm]

You're right - I don't think there's much we can do for her feet at the moment. She's had the bad foot lanced (a couple of times) and is being monitored and has been taken off the chemo and put on antibiotics for the moment. Am really trying to help her with her hands, which she's starting to have a problem with and are getting very sore.