Categories

Skin and Nail Changes during Cancer Treatment

Nail Weakness

Your nails get weaker during cancer treatment. As a result, they start to bend or break easily. This will affect how you perform daily activities, such as holding a pencil or pen, or walking in tight-fitting shoes.

Nail Thinning

According to breast cancer.org, your nails may start to get thinner and more brittle during chemotherapy. [4] Your nails may also stop growing as long as they used to. Thinning of your nails may make them break easily.

Nail Darkening

Chemotherapy may change the color of your nails into black, red, or purple. The changes in nail color is usually more prominent in dark skinned people than light skinned people.

Nail Loss

During cancer treatment, your nails may start to fall off your nail bed. Your nails may fall completely from your nail bed, or break off.

Beau’s Lines

Chemotherapy can cause beau’s lines (horizontal ridges) on the nails. The lines usually occur when nail growth is affected. Beau’s lines can also be caused by infection that occurs during chemotherapy.