What is the most common integumentary side effect of chemotherapy?

Alopecia, or hair loss, is indeed the most recognized and prevalent integumentary side effect associated with chemotherapy. This occurs because chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, which includes not only cancer cells but also healthy cells such as those in hair follicles. As a result, patients undergoing chemotherapy commonly experience varying degrees of hair thinning or complete hair loss, which can be a distressing side effect, both physically and emotionally.

While rash, itching, and hyperpigmentation can also occur in patients undergoing chemotherapy, they are not as widespread or as directly tied to chemotherapy treatment as alopecia. Rash and itching are often associated with specific medications or allergies rather than being a systemic effect of the chemotherapy itself. Hyperpigmentation can occur due to certain chemotherapeutic agents but is less common when compared to the pronounced effect of hair loss, making alopecia the most typical integumentary side effect seen across various chemotherapy regimens.