Minimizing Radiation Dermatitis

A guide to protecting skin during radiation treatment

By Marissa Ransdell

Imagine being a cancer patient who has endured weeks of radiation therapy only to experience painful burns that make each subsequent treatment session unbearable. For many, this is the reality of radiation dermatitis—a side effect that affects nearly every patient undergoing radiation, yet receives little attention.

An estimated 4 million people in the U.S. receive radiation therapy every year. And according to the Cleveland Clinic, almost everyone who has radiation therapy develops radiation dermatitis.

It's important to shed light on this rarely discussed yet significant side effect of radiation therapy. Radiation dermatitis often goes unaddressed until it becomes severe. This gap in care leaves patients suffering when proactive solutions could help them maintain skin integrity from day one.

Radiation Dermatitis 101

Radiation therapy works by targeting cancer cells, but it can also affect healthy skin cells. The high-energy radiation disrupts the skin's ability to regenerate and heal, leading to inflammation, redness and even burns.

Radiation dermatitis typically begins within days to weeks of starting treatment, and while many cases start out mild, without proactive intervention, they can escalate into complications.

Symptoms of radiation dermatitis include erythema (redness), desquamation (peeling), skin atrophy (thinning), telangiectasias (dilated blood vessels) and fibrosis (skin thickening and scarring). The National Cancer Institute classifies these symptoms into four grades:

GRADE 1

Faint erythema or desquamation

GRADE 2

Moderate to brisk erythema or patchy, moist desquamation confined to skin folds and creases; moderate swelling

GRADE 3

Confluent, moist desquamation greater than 1.5 cm diameter, not confined to skin folds; pitting edema (severe swelling)

GRADE 4

Skin necrosis or ulceration of full-thickness dermis (middle layer)

These conditions are painful, and improper care can cause discomfort, delayed healing and infection.

Radiation recall can occur after radiation therapy has ended. This happens when a chemotherapy drug, often given after radiation, triggers inflammation in skin cells already damaged by radiation.

Advanced Wound Care Solutions

Despite the prevalence of radiation dermatitis, there remains a knowledge gap in prevention and treatment. Often, by the time a wound care nurse is involved, the skin damage has already progressed to a more serious stage. Proactive care from the start could help keep the skin intact and minimize breaks in treatment—helping patients complete their radiation schedules without interruption.

For patients undergoing radiation therapy, maintaining skin integrity is critical to continuing their treatment plan. Traditional petroleum-based ointments, while useful, often fall short in providing long-lasting protection and promoting deep skin regeneration. This is where advanced wound care solutions offer a more comprehensive approach, addressing hydration, pain relief and cooling in ways that traditional treatments cannot.

Emerging wound care solutions incorporating advanced ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and lidocaine offer a more comprehensive approach to skin protection and recovery, including:

  • Hydration and protection: Hyaluronic acid, a humectant that attracts moisture, combined with soothing agents like aloe vera, helps build skin resilience and retain hydration, preventing early skin breakdown.
  • Pain management: For patients already experiencing skin damage or radiation recall, lidocaine-infused hydrogels provide safe, localized pain relief without toxicity risks. These low-level lidocaine gels are effective even within wound beds, reducing pain while promoting a moist healing environment.
  • Cooling and absorption: Hydrogel sheets, which consist of 90% water and 10% polyethylene, offer instant cooling relief, pulling heat from the burn site while absorbing wound exudate. This creates an optimal healing environment by reducing pain and keeping the area clean.

Oil-based products, commonly used for moisturizing, come with additional risks for radiation patients. Unlike water-based hydrogels, which are easy to wash off, oil-based products can be difficult to remove thoroughly. Residue that is left on the skin before radiation treatment, may cause the radiation rays to redirect, leading to more significant skin damage.

Role of Homecare & Hospice

Many patients undergoing radiation treatment receive care from home health agencies, and unfortunately, some end up in hospice care. The effects of untreated or improperly managed radiation dermatitis can follow a patient into these settings, potentially contributing to unnecessary suffering. This is where proactive wound care and pain management can make a significant impact.

For homecare patients, maintaining skin integrity is far easier than trying to heal damaged and dry skin later. By incorporating hydrogel dressings early in the treatment process, patients can avoid more severe complications and help manage the pain caused by radiation dermatitis.

In hospice settings, the focus shifts toward comfort care. Many hospice teams, often working closely with home health agencies, are tasked with managing the after-effects of radiation therapy. In these situations, hydrogel dressings with pain-relieving lidocaine gels can offer relief to patients without the need for strong pain drugs. This alternative can help reduce reliance on opioids, allowing patients to remain comfortable and maintain dignity.

It's crucial to recognize that the gaps in radiation dermatitis care during active treatment often leave homecare and hospice nurses dealing with the long-term consequences. Providing patients with better skin care solutions during radiation therapy could prevent these painful scenarios from happening in the first place, ensuring better outcomes across the board.

The Need for Proactive Radiation Dermatitis Care

Preventing and treating radiation dermatitis requires a proactive, patient-centered approach. By integrating advanced wound care solutions like hydrogels, patients can experience better skin protection, pain relief and overall comfort throughout their radiation treatment.

Additionally, educating patients on why they must avoid oil-based products and ensuring they use appropriate wound care solutions can further reduce the risk of complications.

Collaboration between radiation oncologists, home health nurses, wound care specialists and hospice teams is essential to creating a comprehensive care plan. Together, they can help patients maintain their skin integrity and comfort during and after radiation therapy, reducing unnecessary suffering and improving quality of life.

Marissa Ransdell, MBA, WCSP, is the marketing director at MPM Medical, where she leverages more than a decade of health care marketing experience in wound care, infection prevention and elective surgeries. MPM Medical specializes in advanced wound care solutions, dedicated to improving patient outcomes through innovative products. Learn more at mpmmed.com.