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Designer polybalm to prevent chemotherapy-induced onycholysis

Research from Bedford Hospital suggests a plant-based polybalm is superior to petroleum oil in preventing chemotherapy-induced onycholysis.

The polybalm consisted of waxes and essential oils naturally rich in phytochemicals, especially the phenolic polyphenols group which are reported to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, DNA repair enhancing and anti-microbial properties. It included shea butter, beeswax, olive oil, cocoa seed butter, African sage, wintergreen leaf, lavender and eucalyptus. The placebo control balm contained hydrogenated petroleum oil, candela wax, lavender and eucalyptus essences.

The study, published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, recruited 63 prostate cancer and breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy between September 2015 and October 2016. The nail bed balm “profoundly reduced chemotherapy-related nail damage and improved nail-related quality of life, compared to a control”.

Symptom scores recorded with the dermatology life quality questionnaire (DLQQ) were significantly better, between the start and end of chemotherapy, in the group applying the polybalm versus petroleum. Likewise, the mean fall in nail damage, scored with the Nail Psoriasis Index, was significantly different.

Commenting on the findings, the authors said: “The profoundly lower levels of physical nail damage and improvements in nail-related quality of life in the cohort applying the plant-based balm in this robustly designed randomised controlled trial (RCT) strongly suggest that this balm will benefit future patients receiving chemotherapy in route clinical practice.”

As nail toxicity still occurred in a minority of participants, the team is planning further study combining the balm with nail bed cooling.


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