Skin side effects are one of the most overlooked parts of cancer treatment. Two peer-reviewed studies in the medical journal Supportive Care in Cancer helped change that. The first showed how much skin side effects affect patients' lives. The second, a clinical study at Northwestern University, found that patients' quality of life improved when they used Lindi Skin products.
Study 1: Patients didn't expect their skin to be affected this much
In a first-of-its-kind survey, made possible by CancerCare and Lindi Skin, researchers asked cancer patients and survivors directly how treatment-related side effects affected their lives. The work was led by medical experts from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
What they found: survivors were more worried about skin side effects, such as irritated and dry skin, after treatment, and those side effects had a negative effect on their lives.
"The impact of dermatologic toxicities was found to be unanticipated prior to cancer treatments, to a greater degree than gastrointestinal and constitutional side effects… Since these events have a negative effect on survivors' lives, pretreatment counseling and effective interventions are vital in order to maximize quality of life and minimize unnecessary treatment interruptions or discontinuations."
— Dr. Mario E. Lacouture, dermatologist, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
"Advances in cancer treatments have greatly improved survival rates for many diagnoses. Yet, the lingering side effects of many cancer treatments have only recently begun to be addressed… This survey breaks new ground in understanding not only the physical but also the psychological impact of these side effects from the patient's perspective, and what can be done to help alleviate them."
— Rosalie Canosa, Program Division Director, CancerCare
Study 2: Quality of life improved with Lindi Skin
Researchers at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine then studied Lindi Skin products in people going through cancer treatment. Ninety-nine patients used the products for four weeks.
- Skin symptoms went down. Patients reported significantly less dry skin, rash and hand-foot skin reaction.
- Quality of life went up. Scores on the Skindex-16, a standard dermatology quality-of-life questionnaire, were significantly better at four weeks.
- Gentle enough for treatment. Patients rated the products good or very good for tolerability.
In the researchers' words: "Our findings suggest that QoL improves with test article use."
Read the published study in Supportive Care in Cancer · More about our clinical study
Why this matters to us
Lindi Skin started when our founder, Lindy Snider, watched two friends struggle with their skin during cancer treatment. She brought together a Medical Advisory Board of dermatologists and oncologists, and pushed for real research rather than marketing claims. Today Lindi Skin is the original doctor-created skincare for chemo and radiation, trusted since 2003.
And if a product doesn't help, you're covered by our 60-day money-back guarantee, even if it's been opened and used.
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Sources: Gandhi M, Oishi K, Zubal B, Lacouture ME. Unanticipated toxicities from anticancer therapies: survivors' perspectives. Supportive Care in Cancer, 2010. Haley AC, et al. Skin care management in cancer patients: an evaluation of quality of life and tolerability. Supportive Care in Cancer, 2011. Lindi Skin products are cosmetics and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.