Living with skin lymphoma
This information gives tips to help you live well with skin (cutaneous) lymphoma. Depending on your diagnosis, you might also be interested in our information about skin (cutaneous) B-cell lymphoma and skin (cutaneous) T-cell lymphoma. We also have separate information about treatments for skin lymphoma.
On this page
Skin lymphoma as a long-term condition
Inflamed skin (erythroderma) and loss of water from your body
Your feelings about skin lymphoma
Frequently asked questions about skin lymphoma
Skin lymphoma as a long-term condition
Skin lymphoma can be a long-term (chronic) condition. Symptoms can come and go, and you might need treatment more than once.
If your lymphoma is slow-growing (low-grade), your doctors might recommend active monitoring (‘watch and wait’). It can take time to adjust to knowing that you have skin lymphoma but that you are not being treated for it immediately.
It’s therefore important to find ways to live well, both physically and emotionally, with skin lymphoma. We are here to support you in a range of ways. We also have a list of useful organisations, including those relevant to skin (cutaneous) lymphoma.
You might also be interested in Ashley’s story of living with skin lymphoma for over 40 years. He shares his experience and some tips for living well.
Skin soreness and irritation
Skin lymphoma can cause symptoms such as:
- areas of your skin getting thicker (plaques), which can be dry and itchy
- very inflamed, red, dry and flaky skin all over your body (erythroderma)
- itchiness
- proneness to skin irritations, which can affect your mood and sleep.
If a lot of your skin is inflamed, it can make it difficult to control your body temperature.
We give some tips below to help soothe soreness and irritation. The suggestions in our separate information about managing dry, sore and itchy skin might also be relevant to you.
Tips to help soothe soreness and irritation
Your medical team can advise you how best to soothe your symptoms.
Your lymphoma treatment might help to soothe itching. There are also things you can try to help with itching and skin irritation, as well as to get a restful night’s sleep.
Herbal creams and oils
Avoid using herbal or fragranced creams or massage oils because they could:
- irritate dry, broken or inflamed skin
- cause an allergic reaction
- increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity)
- increase your skin’s sensitivity to a light treatment (phototherapy) called PUVA.
What treatments might I be prescribed to help with skin soreness and irritation?
In some cases, you might be prescribed:
- an unperfumed cream, ointment or lotion (emollient) – you might need to try a few different ones to find one that suits you
- a steroid cream if you have erythroderma and severe itching
- a cream containing 1% menthol, which can help to cool your skin and calm itching
- an antihistamine medicine if your itching is very bad, though these are not helpful for all types of skin lymphoma.
Infection
Ask your medical team what signs of an infection to look out for. For example, your skin becoming redder, hotter, more swollen or painful. You might also get a yellow or green fluid (discharge) that smells unpleasant.
If you notice any symptoms or signs of infection, seek medical attention quickly. It’s important to treat infection as soon as possible. You might need to take antibiotics to prevent serious illness.
Body temperature
If a lot of your skin is inflamed, it can make it difficult to control your body temperature – you might develop fevers, chills and shakes. In some cases, body temperature drops to below 35°C/95°F (hypothermia).
Tips to help control your body temperature
There are things you can do to manage your body temperature:
- in cold weather, cover your skin as much as possible to avoid losing heat
- in warm weather, wear loose-fitting clothes made of soft, natural fabrics like bamboo, cotton or linen
- ask friends and family for support – if you are visiting them and they are likely to have their heating on, you could ask if they could turn it down before you arrive.
Talk to your medical team if you are planning to travel outside of the UK – for example, about precautions to take if your skin is sensitive to sunlight (photosensitive).
Inflamed skin (erythroderma) and loss of water in your body
Skin inflammation (erythroderma) can affect how much water you have in your body. This can lead to dehydration, which can cause health problems.
To help minimise the risk of becoming dehydrated:
- drink lots of fluids to replace lost water from the skin, especially in hot weather – this is particularly important if you have a high temperature or infection
- use emollients regularly – this helps to keep your skin moist and to prevent water loss.
In severe cases, dehydration needs hospital treatment. Staff can keep you in a stable environment and frequently apply emollients to your skin to manage the balance of fluid.
Painful skin
Inflamed skin can be painful, particularly in areas with tumours – this is especially the case if there is ‘weeping’ with fluid (discharge) or if it becomes infected.
Creams and ointments
Use emollients to keep your skin moist. Your doctor might give you an emollient that has urea in it, to help moisten and soften your skin. You might also be given one that contains antiseptics, to reduce the risk of infection.
Use any medication given to you as prescribed – for example, you might be given a short course of a strong steroid cream (topical steroid) to help bring down inflammation and itching.
Pain relief medications
Some people find mild painkillers, such as paracetamol, helpful. However, seek medical advice before taking any stronger pain relief medication. This is because some can interact with other medications and might not be safe for you.
The NHS website has information about how to get help with pain.
Your feelings about skin lymphoma
Following a healthy lifestyle can help with your overall physical and emotional wellbeing, to help you to live well, with and beyond lymphoma. This includes eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep, and managing stress.
You might be interested in complementary therapies, which can be used as well as your lymphoma treatment. Although these cannot treat or cure your lymphoma, many people find they help with relaxation and general sense of wellbeing.
Your medical team can also advise you about managing any symptoms of skin lymphoma and side effects of treatment. They are also there to help with the emotional impact of skin lymphoma.
From my own experience, becoming vegan after my chemo and taking more exercise has put lymphoma further back in my thoughts, which is great for my mental wellbeing.
Getting support with how you feel
Try to acknowledge how you feel about having skin lymphoma, including about any changes it causes to your skin’s appearance. This can help you to cope with your thoughts and feelings more easily over time.
Speak to your GP or a member of your medical team about how you feel and how they can support you. If you have a clinical nurse specialist, they could be a good person to ask. If the way your skin looks affects your mood and self-confidence, you could speak to them about ways you could improve the appearance of your skin.
There are lots of ways we can support you too, including through our Helpline Team. You might also be interested in our health and wellbeing resources, and our useful organisations list, which includes an emotional wellbeing section.
Some people try a talking therapy, such as counselling, to help them with challenging feelings. Your GP or a member of your medical team might be able to refer you to a talking therapy on the NHS. They might also be able to tell you about support services in your area.
Skinship UK is a confidential general dermatology helpline offering information and support to anyone living with a skin condition, including skin cancer.
How can I improve the appearance of my skin?
Skin lymphoma can change how your skin looks. If you choose to, there are things you can do to help improve the appearance of your skin. For some people, this improves overall emotional wellbeing.
Below, we outline some options that might be suitable for you – however, it’s important to check with your medical team first.
You might also be interested in the charity Look Good Feel Better – they offer virtual and in-person workshops run by trained specialists. These give practical advice to help with the cosmetic effects of cancer.
Regular make-up
Regular makeup might be suitable for you if your skin is affected in only small areas. However, it is important to check with your medical team which products are safe for you. In general, fragrance-free products and those labelled ‘hypoallergenic’ (less likely to trigger an allergic reaction) are preferable.
Camouflage creams
You could try using a camouflage cream that is carefully matched to your natural skin colour. Camouflage creams are designed to stay in place for much longer than regular foundations, even if they get wet.
Camouflage creams might not be safe for you if your skin is particularly dry, inflamed or broken – check with your GP or clinical nurse specialist before using one. You could also ask whether it’s possible to have one prescribed.
Changing Faces has a range of support services for people who are living with a visible difference. This includes a support and information line and a skin camouflage service.
Frequently asked questions about skin lymphoma
Lots of people haven’t heard of lymphoma before they, or someone they know, are diagnosed. Skin lymphoma can be quite different to some other cancer types that those around you might be more familiar with, in that it can be a long-term condition.
Skin lymphoma can also be challenging to explain as it sometimes looks like other skin conditions, such as rashes, eczema and psoriasis.
You might find it helpful to have people understand a bit about your diagnosis. You could let them know about our skin lymphoma information. If you feel comfortable doing so, you could try to answer their questions. Our Helpline Team is also here to support you, and those close to you.
Some people feel uncomfortable about what other people think about the appearance of their skin. Although it can be difficult, talking openly can help to reduce awkwardness. People often say they feel relieved to have something ‘out in the open’.
If you would like to, you could also consider ways you could improve the appearance of your skin – speak to your medical team for advice about what is safe and likely to be effective for you.
Trusted Information
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Davis M. Erythroderma in adults. Up-to-date, 2025. Accessed July 2025.
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Field H, et al. Pruritus reduction with systemic anti-lymphoma treatments in patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma: A narrative review, 2016. Dermatology and therapy. Accessed July 2025.
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Gilson D, et al. British Association of Dermatologists and U.K. Cutaneous Lymphoma Group guidelines for the management of primary cutaneous lymphomas. British Journal of Dermatology, 2018. Accessed July 2025.
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National Cancer Institute, 2025. PDQ Pruritus. Accessed July 2025.
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National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, British National Formulary, 2025. Emollients, urea-containing. Accessed July 2025.
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Primary care dermatology society, 2022. Erythroderma. Accessed July 2025.