ABSTRACT
The common types of toxicities seen in the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes from conventional systemic chemotherapeutic treatments and targeted therapies are discussed. Chemotherapy-induced alopecia is the most common type of dermatologic complication associated with cancer treatment, and many patients consider it to be the most troubling side effect. Permanent hair loss is uncommon but is reported and seems to occur more often in children and in patients with hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. Cytotoxic agents cause extravasation injuries via irritant, exfoliant, and vesicant reactions (the most severe). Systemic opioids may be required for severe pain associated with oral mucositis. Other mucocutaneous reactions from targeted therapies include oral mucositis, xerosis, pruritus, alopecia, and other types of hair changes. Radiation enhancement injury occurs when a radiation-sensitizing chemotherapeutic drug is given together or within 1 week of radiation treatment. Dermatologic skin reactions associated with cancer treatment are rarely life-threatening.
