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oncology hand and nails

Oncology Hand & Nails – anno 2021-2022

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In nail world this is a tough one and not without complications.

We all know someone who has had, is having or will be having chemo therapy and if your family is like mine, it’s the #1 cause of death – although 3 of us have survived our cancer, my mother, my son and myself, our grandparents didn’t, our father didn’t. My older sister has yet to be diagnosed with cancer so she is (obviously) special!

I am now a specialised Oncology Hand Care® stylist and teacher – Registered with the IKNL in the Netherlands.

With knowledge comes a burden.

To maintain and improve that knowledge every day and to be better and do more for all our patients and clients in the Oncology Hand Care®.

When we don’t know stuff – we don’t make mistakes and we fear nothing – life is somehow easier then.

Oncology Hand Care® training takes about 120hrs and is given by experts in the field, oncology nurses, neurologists, dermatologists and oncology specialists – You cannot learn it all in a day, and I can’t tell you all about it in so many words, what I can do is this …

For “Oncology hand care® the integrity of the nail unit is paramount, with an eye on maintaining that integrity through therapy or improving it through therapy – We aim to start this maintenance before the therapy begins.”

Already it sounds complicated – so I’m going to strip it right back to the super basics and some of it will sound just plain weird, but, I will try to explain why it’s a do or a don’t. Maybe then you can make a better choice for you, your family or your salon clients – lets face it going through cancer is not a fun thing, and depending on the therapy it can make or break you. The most important thing as far as I am concerned is ‘Quality of life’ not just after chemo or immune therapy but also during it.

I will try to keep it simple and the rules are for feet as well as hands.

Do’s and Don’ts Part 1

DO:

  1. Always wear a face mask FFP2 or better. This is not to protect you from your client but to protect your client from you. Picking up a bug from you just before therapy can delay treatment and therefore be life threatening for him or her – it’s a real danger.
  2. Standard salon hygiene is essential. Think of all the things we did for our salon safety during Covid-19, all those hygiene steps should still be in place except the screen – if you are wearing a FFP2 mask or better this will be sufficient.
  3. Remove all artificial nail products or gel polish (asap) before start of therapy. We don’t do this to annoy people or make them uncomfortable, we do this so there are no hidden microbes between product and natural nail plate or natural nail plate and nail bed or in the nail plate itself  – infections of any kind, bacterial, fungal or viral can have enormous consequences for clients/patients undergoing any chemo, radio or immune therapy. (The oncology department will refer the patient to a podiatrist for foot (health) care if there are signs of fungal infection before therapy starts)
  4. Start ASAP with regular use of nail and skin oil and lotion & nail plate care, this is the same for men as women. This because we know that the healthier the nail unit before start of therapy the less chance there is of infection from opportunistic pathogens spreading to other parts of the body. (Chemotherapy & Immune therapy compromise our body’s ability to fight off infections and infections delay therapy for your patient or client)
  5. Use a 240-grit file to file the free edge or a glass file. This reduces greatly the chances of causing a wound or puncturing the skin.
  6. If you do need to use an artificial nail product during therapy, always use clear product and create colour or art with nail varnish, when using nail varnish don’t forget to also use a base coat.
  7. Avoid hard gel – if it cannot be soaked off use a peel off base coat. If the product needs to be removed quickly it can be done simply and without causing extra nail plate damage. (This would only be done if there were signs of infection in, on or under the nail plate, or toxic build up of chemo in the nail bed, for this very same reason its important to use clear artificial nail products – nail varnish can be removed and replaced quickly and without hassle in the hospital or clinic should someone need to look for an infection or nail toxicity)

DON’T’S: (during therapy)

  1. No nipping, cutting or mechanical abrasion of the skin (RM) with electric file. Causing a skin wound of any kind is irresponsible and will put your client/patient and or family member at extreme risk of infection. (Skin cannot recover at the same speed during chemo and immune therapy and will not only become thinner over time but the keratinisation process will be speeded up as the body attempts to protect itself from further compromise)
  2. Avoid paraffin hand treatments as these will be too hot – (Neuropathy is a serious complication your client/patient could be suffering from and you can cause them more pain or worse if you don’t know what neuropathy is or how to spot it you should not have had your client/patient at your nail table)
  3. Never buff the natural nail plate – not even with a sponge file – your client/patient needs intact nail units and intact guardian seals. (You need to understand that our hands and fingers are essential to our daily lives, infections need to be avoided at all costs. If you cannot wipe your backside or change your clothes yourself if you vomited, your standard of life during chemotherapy will be considerably impacted, buffing the natural nail reduces the protective upper layer allowing opportunistic pathogens a way in)
  4. Please do not ‘push’ the proximal nail fold with a cuticle pusher it just causes more damage. The proximal nail fold will keratinise itself as a defence reaction to doing this, this will cause more pain and discomfort than before that happened. Use a good quality nail oil and a curette if you want to passively remove the cuticle from the nail plate.
  5. Avoid using tools without cleaning and sterilising them first.

Contraindications: Do not treat the hands or fingers if you or your client, patient or family member have;

  • a fever higher than 38C
  • a skin infection
  • bleeding or signs of infection in his/her fingers
  • strange colors in the nail bed

DO refer back to the oncology team if you notice if any of the signs listed above and/or if this sounds confusing or you are not sure then please DO NOT TREAT your client, patient and or family member – it’s an act of kindness and professionalism not to!

**this information DOES NOT REPRESENT AN ONCOLOGY QUALIFICATION for nail professionals. It is just a guide.

Related Terms:

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\n

Seal above the nail matrix at the proximal edge of the nail unit.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_e7431d1154dd66f12c8e0559215cd86c":"

Fungal infection<\/div>
nail fungus, fungal infection on a toenail\n

A type of infection caused by a fungus, which can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, nails, and hair. Fungal infections <\/a>are typically characterized by symptoms such as itching, redness, and inflammation, and can be treated with antifungal medications. Some common types of fungal infections include athlete's foot, ringworm, and onychomycosis<\/a> (fungal infection of the nails).<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_16385747d39857933ce6704056df11c4":"

Contraindications<\/div>
\n

This describes a variety of conditions of the nails and skin that are discovered during a client consultation. Some of these conditions prevent continuing with any treatment or service as it would be unsafe for the client. Other conditions may not prevent treatment but may restrict some treatments or the treatment needs modification to allow for the contra indication. Examples of c\/i preventing treatment could be infection, a medical condition that needs to be referred to a medical practitioner, broken bones. Examples of a c\/i the restricts or needs a treatment modification could be diabetes, circulation issues, and bruises.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_f00b3885820d8ff0625113ec4f5b0c80":"

Nail professional<\/div>
\n

An individual who is qualified to provide a wide range of nail services.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_56b29414962b1272ec97da5eda2eebba":"

Nail Folds<\/div>
guardian nail seals\n

There are four Guardian Seals of the Nail Unit, also known as nail folds.
The first two are lateral nail folds to the left and right of the nail plate are there to hold the nail plate in place.
Nail folds are living skin barriers to protect us from invading pathogens.
The Proximal Nail Fold being the third Guardian Seal is there to protect the nail matrix and the eponychium from invading pathogens.
The Hyponychium is the fourth Guardian Seal.
All four Guardian Seals are important to maintain the integrity of the nail unit and need to be oiled on a regular basis to keep them elastic.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_b194e98c35f4b702f309014939ccb864":"

Natural nail<\/div>
natural nails\n

The nail that is produced by the nail matrix and covers the end of the finger or toe.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_08ad98412a9ffb1f23068a4ab1ec1c62":"

e-file<\/div>
e-file\n

This is a electrical piece of equipment using \u2018bits\u2019 of various shapes and abrasiveness used to shape or remove nail overlays or enhancements.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_47ffca807399854a8cf9ed917af26471":"

Nail polish<\/div>
\n

A cosmetic product that coats the nails with a colour or clear film for strength and\/or an aesthetic quality. It is full of solvents that dry by evaporation.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_1246a1b7fb9bed3e4702bd0168f71114":"

Nail plate<\/div>
Nail Plate\n

Hard layers of modified and keratinised skin cells, bonded together, to form a protective plate on the end of each finger and toe, that prevents damage to the underlying bone and allows for manual dexterity.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_ac495df187bbf96e6482b41f45437ba1":"

Nail unit<\/div>
Nail Unit\n

The nail unit is an anatomically correct term used to describe the area at the end of fingers and toes. A relatively complicated area that protects the last bone and aids dexterity.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_386c1431b70ea08d70a9cff5236be3c9":"

Gel polish<\/div>
\n

Gel polish is a type of nail polish that is cured under UV or LED light to create a hard, durable and glossy coating. It is a two-step process that involves applying a base coat, followed by the gel polish color, and then finishing with a top coat. <\/p>\n
\n

The gel polish is composed of a mixture of monomers, oligomers, pigments, and other additives that polymerize when exposed to light. This creates a strong bond with the natural nail, making the manicure long-lasting and resistant to chipping, peeling and cracking. <\/p>\n
\n

Gel polish is typically removed by soaking the nails in acetone, and is a popular choice for people looking for a low-maintenance, high-shine manicure.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_6d42b2a1e753198a87c1cc08328cfbec":"

Podiatrist<\/div>
Podiatrist\n

A podiatrist or podiatric physician (or chiropodist) is medically qualified professional devoted to the treatment of disorders of the foot, toe nails, ankle, and related structures of the leg.<\/p>\n
\n

To practice as a podiatrist in the UK, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and to do this you need to successfully complete an HCPC approved Podiatry Degree.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_3862ec5812109e89f2ef491358667ded":"

Free edge<\/div>
\n

The free edge refers to the outermost part of the nail plate that extends beyond the fingertip or toe. It is the portion of the nail that is not attached to the nail bed or the surrounding skin. The free edge is typically trimmed and shaped during nail care routines and is susceptible to snapping or breaking off when subjected to excessive force or trauma.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_c1a36df0013019a12f8f575de70e853d":"

Nail bed<\/div>
Nail Bed\n

An area of the nail unit under the nail plate consisting of Nail Bed Epithelium and Dermis.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_b1c0d6ac2b2d57b70735cc3036131694":"

Pathogen<\/div>
Pathogen\n

A pathogen is the term used to describe an organism (any organism) that can produce disease. <\/p>\n
\n

Viruses, Bacteria\u00a0and Fungi\u00a0are 3 typical pathogens that we can come into contact within the nail salon or podiatry practice.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_c0fe0b3a4644dbc02acdaadbe8507e77":"

Base Coat<\/div>
Nail Base Coat\n

Base coats are used in nail coatings and are designed to have good adhesion to the nail plate. In a traditional nail polish it can also prevent any staining by the colour coating.

It is essential to use with a UV gel system (unless the specific brand has been formulated with its own adhesion properties) as it will adhere to the nail plate and also to the subsequent layers.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_c7d08ac82eb8e0ea8cd0e09c09590f44":"

Nail fold<\/div>
\n

The fold of skin at the base and sides of the nail plate.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_2a06948ec9c9742c1c6b3669a3a4997b":"

Toxicity<\/div>
\n

Toxicity is the ability of a substance to damage a living organism or cell (human or animal).<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_0dcd57ba8621af54d50d35c5790fd25a":"

Paraffin<\/div>
\n

Paraffin: A type of wax that is commonly used in pedicure treatments to moisturize and soften the skin. The feet are dipped in warm paraffin wax, which helps to soothe and hydrate dry, cracked skin.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_d61ffd4b1e0feb3ae62068cdc8511042":"

Buffing<\/div>
Nail Buffing\n

This is a process using an abrasive. It could refer to using a buffer (usually with a high grit of around 240) to shape and refine a nail coating or overlay. Or it could refer to using a 3 or 4 way buffer (of increasing grit) to bring an overlay or a natural nail to a shine<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_233aa7066306b249d62603794d4832bb":"

Cuticle<\/div>
Cuticle\n

Keratinised and non-living skin cells of the proximal nail fold that seals the edge between the proximal nail fold and the nail plate creating an efficient seal at the base of the nail plate.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_c2e069c15c53b6419cbb6a1f29b8e221":"

Curette<\/div>
curettes\n

A curette is a small\u00a0hand tool, often similar in shape to a\u00a0stylus; at the tip of the curette is a small scoop, hook, or\u00a0gouge. It is used during nail service to help scrape off any unwanted cuticle from the surface of the nail plate.<\/p>\n
\n

In other forms, curettes are also used as surgical instruments, or in various medical fields for cleaning purposes.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_2ae2a5a730f9a5ec8dd0c72128dbb020":"

Lotion<\/div>
hand lotion\n

A lotion\u00a0is a low-viscosity\u00a0product intended for application to the\u00a0skin. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\n

Although there are many types of lotions,\u00a0hand lotions\u00a0and\u00a0body lotions\u00a0are meant to simply smooth, moisturize, soften and, sometimes, perfume the skin.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_71f9432749bfe5be96b4da24998d9070":"

Toxic<\/div>
Toxic\n

Anything that contains or is poisonous, especially when capable of causing serious injury or death.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_b47d2a52f23d0717c627433d1bb12433":"

Mask<\/div>
\n

A mask is a cosmetic or skincare product applied to the face or hands to address specific concerns or provide benefits such as hydration, exfoliation, or rejuvenation. Masks used during manicures or spa treatments can help nourish the skin, cuticles, or nails.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_2e6f4301ddc14e53781352e5be01b77f":"

Grit<\/div>
\n

This refers to an abrasive. Many different files and buffers are used by a nail professional for different purposes. The 'grit' denotes the level of abrasiveness. The lower the number the more abrasive the file or buffer; the higher the number the less abrasive. 100 or 180 grits is commonly used to shape and refine a coating or overlay. 240 is the lowest grit that should be used on a natural nail as any lower can cause too much damage. <\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_65613e97f2411bc5c33cf6caac8295d2":"

Nail file<\/div>
nail files\n

A\u00a0nail file\u00a0is an abrasive tool used to shape the edges of\u00a0natural nails or correct the shape of nail enhancements. It is often used in\u00a0manicures\u00a0and\u00a0pedicures\u00a0after the nail has been trimmed using appropriate\u00a0nail clippers. Nail files may either be emery boards, ceramic, glass, crystal, or metal files. <\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_4eb428598c1d8f289e6897779124e77d":"

UV Gel<\/div>
\n

A nail product that cures (or polymerizes) under a UV lamp.
There are various types of UV gels, categorized by the way they can be removed, or by the way they can be used.

<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_b0e3b3f1d5cca69789f6579c409ed71f":"

Base<\/div>
\n

This is often what an alkaline substance is called but is commonly used as a term describing a nail coating that is a first layer adhering to the nail plate.<\/p>\n<\/div>"}}; -->