Ice the hands and feet during and after treatment. This help prevent and ease the pain of hand-foot syndrome. Many cancer patients find using plastic bags of frozen corn or peas works better than hard blocks of ice, since they conform to the hands and feet better.

Moisturize the skin with aloe vera, lotion, or a healing balm. Good moisturizers can help prevent peeling. (But it's important not to rub vigorously when putting on the cream.) For inflammation, blistering, and peeling, hydrocortisone cream works well.

Try topical treatment with a prescription cream called DMSO (dimethyl-sulfoxide). DMSO has been found to be very effective at treating the pain and inflammation from hand-foot syndrome, but only recently has it become available, and not all doctors mention it. If you or someone you're caring for develops hand-foot syndrome, ask the doctor to prescribe DMSO. You can also ask chemo nurses about it during treatment sessions.

Consider vitamin B6. Some small studies suggest that taking vitamin B6 at a fairly high dose (50 to 150 mg) can help, but discuss this with the doctor before trying it. Some experts suggest that people who are going to be taking chemo drugs such as Adriamycin, known to cause hand-foot syndrome, begin taking vitamin B6 preventively. In this case the dose is also 50 to 150 mg, which is higher than the dose contained in a conventional B vitamin, so it has to be purchased it separately.

Because hand-foot syndrome can worsen and actually lead to the postponement of chemo treatments, it's best to take it seriously. No matter how hard it is to leave dishes in the sink and resist favorite activities like gardening or exercising, it's worth giving your hands and feet a rest for a few days after chemo to prevent hand-foot syndrome.