skin on nipple rough

Options
Toyamjj
Toyamjj Member Posts: 151
edited May 2019 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi,

Completed radiation about 5 weeks ago, no burns but I did tan very several shades darker and even my hair follicles on my skin were even darker and you could see the outlined hair follicles very easily. The dark tan has since stared to fade and I'm now really splotchy in areas and especially around the areola. My question is I've noticed the skin on my nipple feels rough, could this be a side effects from the radiation? Hoping its nothing new I need to worry about.


Thanks

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Elephant
    Elephant Member Posts: 88
    edited May 2019

    Toyamjj: I had the same thing: rough skin on the nipple which I just thought was from the radiation. I only went a little pink after my treatment finished and had a few light brown splotches. I used Biafine cream for a long time and that helped get rid the rough skin.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toyamjj
    Toyamjj Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2019

    Thank you, will pick some up today!

    Hugs!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GreenHarbor
    GreenHarbor Member Posts: 265
    edited May 2019

    The same thing happened to me. I used calendula cream for 2 weeks after rads, and then either Aquaphor or regular lotion. It took a few more weeks to clear up, but it was early winter when I start to get drier skin anyways

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • iamccf
    iamccf Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2019

    Good afternoon, I had a lumpectomy at the end of Feb, and finished a short series of radiation in April. My nipple continues to be stiff more often than not, and when it's stiff it's sore to touch. There is no peeling, and I'm continuing to use Aquafor on the incision right around and on my nipple, as well as Calendula. Was this something either of you experienced, and will it eventually go away? Thank you for whatever suggestions you may have for me.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Spoonie77
    Spoonie77 Member Posts: 925
    edited May 2019

    I finished RADs in Oct 2018 and I'm still dealing with tons of issues from it. I won't list them, but will say, since your issue is with your nipple, that my nipple still alternates on and off between rough, oily, sticky, and whatever else it wants to do. My PT advised me that this is normal as it readjusts to life after RADs. Plus, being on endocrine therapy adds another wrinkle to the mix. I put Calendula and AloeVesta on it/breast area 3 x daily through December, now I use my Nivea lotion 2 x daily on my entire breast.

    IMO I'd talk with your team about it, but I'm guessing they will say it's to be expected, and to continue to use calendula/lotion with Vit E as needed.

    Hang in there. It's a rough rollercoaster!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toyamjj
    Toyamjj Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2019

    I stopped putting the lotion and aquaphor on regularly like I use to, I will start moisturizing my breast again. I was very good and dedicated but stopped about two weeks after I completed rads.

    Thanks all for your support, don't know what I'd do without this board!


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • runor
    runor Member Posts: 1,798
    edited May 2019

    Regularly, for about a year and a half after rads, I would scratch my nipple because it felt rough. A bit of dry skin would flake up. Upon further delicate scratching / picking a large portion of the skin would peel off. It's like my nipple kept shedding its top layer of skin every 6 weeks or so. What came off was thick and rough, like a callous. It was not painful or tender, just developed dead skin which eventually caught on something and then I noticed it and peeled it off. This seems to have finally stopped, a few months short of two years after end of rads.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MAG0126
    MAG0126 Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2019

    Hello! I used coconut oil on my skin during radiation and would also put a blob of coconut oil on a sterile non stick pad and place it inside my sports bra. This helped me tremendously with dryness and tightness.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • iamccf
    iamccf Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2019

    You are all such a wealth of knowledge, thank you! I realize I'm still very new to this experience, and my discomfort is probably expected, and learning from your experiences has eased my anxiety. Good luck to all of you on your journeys!


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories