Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Kinesiology Tape Wrapping as Adjunct Therapy for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor–Induced Paronychia

Background: Current therapies for epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor (EGFRI)–related paronychia demonstrate effectiveness; however, some patients respond poorly and experience recurrent painful granulation tissue, particularly in weight‐bearing areas such as the big toes. Based on promising results from our previous pilot study by Hsu and colleagues, novel kinesiology tape wrapping, which physically shields the inflamed periungual tissue from irritation by the nail plate, has emerged as a potentially effective adjunct therapy. Objectives: This open‐label, randomized‐controlled, single‐center study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of kinesiology tape wrapping in cancer patients with EGFRI‐related paronychia. Materials and Methods: Eligible participants were assigned to receive either kinesiology tape wrapping in combination with conventional therapies or conventional therapies alone for 12 weeks. Efficacy outcomes, including the reduction of subjective pain assessed by the numerical rating scale (NRS) and the objective single‐digit scoring system for paronychia related to oncologic treatments (single‐digit SPOT), as well as adverse events (AEs), were recorded at baseline and at Weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 postenrollment. Results: A total of 24 patients were randomized, of which, 22 qualified for analysis. The rate of continuous tape use was 36.3%. At Week 12, pain NRS scores showed no significant differences between groups, while patients treated with continuous or intermittent kinesiology tape wrapping demonstrated notably greater reductions in single‐digit SPOT scores compared to those receiving conventional therapy alone (NRS: 3.27 vs. 2.78, p = 0.586; single‐digit SPOT: 5.32 vs. 1.52, p = 0.022). No serious AEs were reported. Conclusion: Kinesiology tape wrapping is an effective and safe adjunct noninvasive therapy that offers additional benefits in managing EGFRI‐related paronychia. Further studies with longer follow‐ups and improved patient compliance may help fully evaluate its effectiveness in pain reduction. Trial Registration : ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06411093