The most common skin changes for patients with MDS are rashes or injection site reactions.  A rash is a change of the skin which affects its color, appearance, or texture. A rash may be localized in one part of the body, or affect all of the skin. Rash is generally caused by a skin irritation that can result from chemotherapy, allergy, infection, or skin problem.  Certain skin changes may indicate more severe skin infections, such as shingles.

Things you can do:

1. Examine your skin daily.
2. Report changes in your skin to your health care provider as soon as you notice them.
3. Avoid sun exposure and use sunscreens with a sun protection factor of at least 15.
4. Wear hats, sunglasses, and cover skin as much as possible.
5. Use mild, non-perfumed, non-deodorant soaps, such as Dove, Aveeno, or Neutrogena soaps.
6. Take showers or short, cool baths instead of long, hot showers.
7. Use lanolin-based creams, lotions and ointments regularly to keep your skin well hydrated.
8. Avoid perfumes.

Additional Resources:

MDS Foundation:  multisite-demo.com      www.BuildingBlocksofHope.com

Cancer.net: Rash http://www.cancer.net/sites/cancer.net/files/asco_answers_rash.pdf

American Cancer Society:  Getting help for skin changes

https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/cancer-control/en/booklets-flyers/getting-help-for-skin-changes-english.pdf

Cancer Care: Rash:  http://www.cancercare.org/tagged/rash

Oncolink: Nail and Skin Changes: https://www.oncolink.org/support/side-effects/nail-and-skin-changes