Author(s)

Akiko Hatanaka¹, Yohei Kono^2,3*, Hiromi Ueno¹, Masako Kariu¹, Mina Yawata¹, Miyuki Murata¹, Mika Fujiwara¹, Kaoru Okame¹, Ikuyo Arakane¹, Chiho Tomimatsu³, Yuiko Nagasawa³, Takahiro Hiratsuka^3,4, Satoshi Otsu⁵, Yasushi Kawano⁶, Masao Ogata⁵, Yutaka Hatano^2,7, Shizuyo Tominaga¹, Masafumi Inomata^2,3

¹Nursing Department of Oita University Hospital, Oita, Japan.
²Department of Advanced Medical Research and Development for Cancer and Hair [Aderans], Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan.
³Department of Gastroenterological and Pediatric Surgery, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan.
⁴Department of Comprehensive Surgery for Community Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan.
⁵Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan.
⁶Department of Oita Regional Medical Support System Construction Project, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan.
⁷Department of Dermatology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan.

Introduction: Chemotherapy-induced skin symptoms are diverse and vary in severity. As more cancer patients live in the community while continuing treatment, changes in appearance due to skin disorders reduce their quality of life (QOL). Cosmetic therapy may be one effective method to improve QOL. We investigated the effects of cosmetic therapy on QOL of cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced changes in appearance. Methods: Female patients aged ≥ 20 years who underwent outpatient chemotherapy at our hospital and developed CTCAE ≥ grade 2 eyebrow or eyelash alopecia, or ≥ grade 1 skin hyperpigmentation were enrolled in this prospective study. Cosmetic therapy was performed by nurses who acquired skills in cosmetic therapy. QOL indices before and after cosmetic therapy were assessed and compared using Skindex-16, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) skin condition and makeup satisfaction, and Cancer Patient Self-Efficacy Scale. Results: The study included 21 patients, 16 of whom were evaluated after cosmetic therapy. The mean age was 63.5 (43 - 79) years. The Number of cases by CTCAE grade were eyebrow alopecia grades 0/1/2 = 5/6/5, eyelash alopecia grades 0/1/2 = 3/7/6, and pigmentation grades 0/1/2 = 1/13/2. The Skindex-16 emotional score improved from 31.0 before to 3.7 after cosmetic therapy (p < 0.01), and overall score combining symptom, emotional, and functional subscales improved from 18.3 to 2.7 (p < 0.01). VAS skin condition satisfaction improved from 35.6 to 58.9 (p < 0.01) and makeup satisfaction improved from 44.5 to 80 (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Implementation of cosmetic therapy for cancer patients improved negative emotions caused by appearance changes associated with chemotherapy-induced skin damage, suggesting that cosmetic therapy improves QOL.

Alopecia, Chemotherapy, Cosmetic Therapy, Pigmentation, Quality of Life

Hatanaka, A. , Kono, Y. , Ueno, H. , Kariu, M. , Yawata, M. , Murata, M. , Fujiwara, M. , Okame, K. , Arakane, I. , Tomimatsu, C. , Nagasawa, Y. , Hiratsuka, T. , Otsu, S. , Kawano, Y. , Ogata, M. , Hatano, Y. , Tominaga, S. and Inomata, M. (2025) Effects of Cosmetic Therapy on Cosmetic Side Effects of Chemotherapy to Improve the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients
—Effects of Cosmetic Therapy on QOL of Cancer Patients. Journal of Cancer Therapy, 16, 186-200. doi: 10.4236/jct.2025.165015.