Cancer treatments and their side effects may cause you to look and feel different. The Look Good Feel Better program offers the following tips about caring for your nails, skin and hair.

NAILS: Your nails may discolor, as well as become very brittle and dry due to treatment.

• Wear gloves while washing dishes, and avoid keeping your hands in water for

very long – it can lead to fungal infections.

• Tell your doctor if you notice signs of inflammation or infection, such as dark

or lifted nail beds.

• Don’t use hand creams with alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acids.

• Always use formaldehyde-free nail polish and avoid artificial nails during chemotherapy.

SKIN: Cancer treatments may increase your risk of infection and sensitivity to sunlight as well as cause dry or sensitive skin. Talk to the patient educator about the best ways to protect your skin if you have chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Tell your doctor if you notice any signs of infection, such as redness, irritation, or puffiness.

HAIR LOSS: Radiation, chemotherapy and targeted therapy can harm cells that help hair grow, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology. You are most likely to lose hair from your head, eyebrows and eyelashes. Hair loss varies for people and depends on the dose, method and kind of drug you receive. Your hair’s texture and color could be different when it regrows.

• American Cancer Society Tender Loving Care — A nonprofit shop for affordable wigs, hair-loss products and mastectomy products at tlcdirect.org

• Cancersupportcommunity.org or 1-888-793-9355 for resources

• Look Good Feel Better® Program — A free program to help female cancer patients deal with appearance-related side effects of cancer and treatments. Virtual workshops teach about skincare, make-up, wigs and head coverings. Call 1-800-395-5665 or visit lookgoodfeelbetter.org

• The Patient Resource Center — Provides free wigs, bras and breast prosthetics to cancer patients, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, Christus St. Vincent Regional Cancer Center, 2nd floor, 490 W. Zia Road., 505-913-3095

BEAUTY RESOURCES: Your patient navigator or social worker can help you find local headwear resources or visit chemobeanies.com or headcovers.com. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from a lack of eyelashes.