Side effects on the skin from radiation therapy

When you receive radiation therapy, you may experience side effects to the skin. The skin’s reaction from the radiation therapy is individual. Some will only have minor reactions while others will experience severe reactions. The degree of side effects from the skin depends on how many radiation treatments are given. Normally, the skin reaction only begins 1 to 2 weeks into treatment. The skin reaction often peaks 1 to 2 weeks after treatment ends, then it decreases gradually. Normally, the skin reaction will be gone 1 month after treatment ends. During the actual radiation therapy, the skin reaction can be anything from a bit of redness to very red on the treated area. The skin can get dry or moist and peel. Small red, itchy spots and swelling of the area may occur. Both the skin reaction and swelling can cause pain to some people. Often one can see an increased skin reaction in skin folds and in warm, moist areas, e.g. the inner thigh, groin, armpits and behind the ears. If you develop a skin reaction due to radiation therapy, the radiation therapist who provides the treatment will guide you on how to ease the skin reaction and you’ll be given creams and bandages. If you’re in pain, you’ll be given painkillers. If worse skin reactions occur, e.g. an infection, you’ll be attended to and treated by a doctor. In some people, more chronic changes such as pigment changes, spider veins in the skin and thickening of the skin may develop. There are a number of things you can do to ease and minimise a skin reaction. You should wash the area that’s receiving radiation daily. You can use mild, perfume-free soap or just water. Pat the area dry with a towel rather than drying it as you usually do. Also use a perfume-free moisturiser twice daily on the area. It’s important that the cream is absorbed into the skin before the radiation treatment. The cream can’t prevent a skin reaction but it can ease the itching and irritation and contribute to faster normalisation of the skin after treatment ends. Avoid tight clothes on the area receiving treatment and wear cotton or silk clothing. It allows the skin to breathe and loose clothing decreases the clothes’ friction against the skin, which can cause irritation and possibly pain. Also avoid removing hair growth from the treated area if it’s a place that you normally remove hair from. Alternatively, use an electric razor. That way you’ll avoid irritating the skin unnecessarily. There are exceptions to this rule but if they apply to you, you’ll be informed. Also avoid baths, chlorinated water and ocean until the skin has healed after the radiation therapy has ended. Avoid smoking and drink little alcohol as it can increase the risk of skin discomfort. You must avoid direct sunlight and solariums on the radiated area for up to one year after treatment has ended. When you’re outside, you must protect the radiated area against direct sunlight using clothes that provide the best protection or with a high factor sunscreen. In connection with radiation treatment, you'll receive individual information and guidance from the doctor and radiation therapist which is precisely suited to the treatment you’ll be receiving. Always follow the guidelines and feel free to ask the doctor and radiation therapists in-depth questions.