Treatment Side Effects
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summer minimize fissuring by virtue of increased moisture.
Patients can take preventative measures to avoid fissures by keeping
thick, scaly hands and feet moisturized frequently throughout the day
with fragrance-free lotions or a thick layer of petroleum jelly products.
This may include applying a thick layer at bedtime to palms and soles
and sleeping with white cotton gloves or cotton socks.
Once fissures form, it’s important to clean them at least twice a day with
soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment to cracks or fissures
to speed healing. Patients should first try an over-the-counter product
like polysporin. Most dermatologists encourage patients to avoid
triple antibiotic ointment (such as Neosporin®) because the neomycin
ingredient in Neosporin® can be an allergen that causes a rash. If a 1- or
2-week trial of double antibiotic ointment does not improve fissuring,
patients should consult with their physician for prescription-strength
topical or oral antibiotics.
Occasionally, a fissure is so deep and wide that physicians may instruct
patients to use superglue to glue the fissure together. If instructed
to do so, patients should clean the fissure with soap and water and
dispense a tiny droplet of superglue in the fissure, pinching surrounding
skin together for 60-90 seconds to help close it. It dries very quickly.
However, patients need to be careful not to glue their fingers together.
In addition, consider using New-Skin®, an antibiotic solution
containing a light adhesive that also provides a barrier over fissures and
a mixture of chemicals that creates a polymer layer which binds to the
skin, keeping away dirt and germs and retaining moisture. Look for
products named liquid band-aid or the like.
Infection
Skin infections are not uncommon in cutaneous lymphoma patients.
Some patients with more extensive skin involvement may find that their
skin is colonized with a bacteria called staphylococcus aureus. While
some forms of staph bacteria exist normally on our skin, this version is
the most common bacteria to infect the skin of patients with cutaneous
lymphoma. When they occur, infections usually arise in skin lesions of
cutaneous lymphoma. Infection is the greatest concern for cutaneous
lymphoma patients because, if left untreated, its consequences can be
life-threatening.
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