The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has recently released skincare guidelines and tips for those living with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). It’s important that impacted individuals take good care of their skin, as it helps to ease symptoms and discomfort, along with preventing infections.

Taking Care of Your Skin With CTCL

Here are the guidelines to keep in mind:

• Make sure your baths or showers aren’t too long and use lukewarm water and unscented soap
  • Try to keep them in the 5 to 7 minute range
  • Long showers can actually dry out the skin
• Pat the skin dry after a shower
• Practice the soak and smear method, which means applying moisturizer while the skin is still wet, usually after a shower or bath
  • Use unscented, over-the-counter (OTC) moisturizers like Aveeno, Vaseline, CareVe, Cetaphil, Aquaphor, and Eucerin
  • Apply at least once or twice daily
• Utilize humidifiers throughout your home or spaces you spend a lot of time in
• Follow the instructions on the packages of topical medications, along with any directions from your doctor
• Wear loose-fitting clothing
  • Avoid any materials that may irritate the skin, such as wool
• Use unscented products for laundry
• Take care of your fingernails! Keeping them short and clean can stop some of the damage caused by itching

Of course, these are not the only things to keep in mind when taking care of skin impacted by CTCL. In fact, one important part of skincare is managing itchy, dry skin. Firstly, it’s important to consult your doctor. They may prescribe a topical medication that will help, or they may suggest you use an antihistamine or OTC topical lotion. Otherwise, try a cool compress for five to ten minutes throughout the day; this method should help to soothe the itchiness.

Something else that your doctor might recommend is a bleach bath. In order to make one, use the ratio of a half cup of liquid, regular strength bleach for every quarter of the tub that is filled with warm water. If your doctor tells you to, take one of these baths two to three times a week without getting your hair, eyes, or face wet. They should help to reduce skin irritation while also preventing infections.

Lastly, it’s important to understand skin biopsies, because they’re an important factor of CTCL care. If you do undergo one of these procedures, make sure to take special care of the area afterward. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center also offers useful tips for this type of care, which you can find here.

About CTCL

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a group of cancers that falls under the larger umbrella of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). T-cells become abnormal and malignant, which leads to rashes, tumors, and plaques. Because there are numerous forms of CTCL, the symptoms vary depending on the type one has. Despite this, a few common symptoms include hair loss; round patches of skin that may be raised, scaly, or itchy; enlarged lymph nodes, thickening of the skin on the palms and soles; an itchy, rash-like redness, discolored patches, and lumps that may break open. To treat this cancer, doctors will form a treatment plan out of the following options: chemotherapy (may be topical), photochemotherapy, radiation, and retinoids.