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Radiation Skin Side Effects

According to the National Cancer Institute, around half of all people diagnosed with cancer receive radiation therapy. Though side effects of radiation vary depending on the location of the treatment, all external radiation treatments cause some kind of skin-related side effects.

  1. Types of Side Effects

    • The first skin side effects of radiation are usually redness, tenderness and sensitivity. Later, skin usually becomes dry and itchy and begins to peel.

    Time Frame

    • Early skin side effects from radiation therapy typically develop during the first two weeks of treatment, with other effects occurring after the third week.

    Features

    • Hair loss on the areas of radiation is common. In some cases, this hair loss is irreversible and the affected areas remain hairless forever, reports MayoClinic.com.

    Risks

    • Some patients receiving radiation therapy develop thin skin that is easily bruised or broken. It is also the case that some wounds heal more slowly due to the treatment.

    Warning

    • It is very important to protect your skin from the sun while undergoing radiation treatment and for one year afterward.

    Self-Care

    • Wearing loose-fitting clothing and applying creams that contain lanolin, aloe vera or Vitamin E reduces some of the skin-related side effects caused by radiation, according to the American Cancer Society.

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