Tending to Your Skin With Radiation Burns

Radiation burns (radiation dermatitis) affect more than 90% of the approximately 4 million Americans who receive radiation therapy for cancer each year.

For many, radiation burns are mild and can easily be treated. However, about 20% of people who receive radiation therapy will have more serious burns whose symptoms can interfere with their daily lives.

This article examines why radiation burns occur, what they feel and look like, and how to treat them.

What Happens When You Get Radiation Burns?

Radiation therapy uses X-ray beams aimed from outside your body to kill cancer cells inside the body. These beams can also damage healthy cells. Because the radiation beams need to pass through your skin to reach the cancer, skin changes such as burns can occur on or around the
treated areas.

Radiation burns don't appear right away. Instead, they usually appear one to two weeks after starting treatment. Burns can develop even after your final radiation session because the therapy keeps working in the body after treatment is finished.

Appearance

Radiation burns are more likely to occur in areas of the body where skin touches skin, such as the armpits or under the breast, or areas that have had a lot of sun exposure. Their appearance on the skin can include:  

• Redness of white skin or darkening of black or brown skin
• Dryness
• Peeling
• Blistering
• Swelling

Weeping radiation burns, in which the skin becomes wet and sore, can also occur and usually appears in places where there are skinfolds, such as under the breasts or in the armpits.

Sensation

Radiation burns can be painful and feel similar to a sunburn. Burns may feel:

• Itchy
• Burning
• Sore
  

What Degree Are Radiation Burns?

Radiation burns are categorized by degree, the same as thermal burns (burns you receive from coming into contact with hot objects like a stove).

First-degree burns appear as red, dry skin with moderate pain and itching. Second-degree burns occur as red, moist skin that blisters. Pain and itching can be mild to severe.

First Aid for Radiation Burns

It's important to treat your skin with care during and after radiation therapy to help you feel more comfortable and recover more quickly. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions for taking care of your skin and consult with them if you experience any skin changes or if your radiation burn symptoms are worsening.

How They're Treated

If you experience radiation burns, there are at-home, over-the-counter (OTC), and prescription treatments to help, which can include:

• Gentle washing: Clean treated skin daily with warm water and a low-pH cleanser to remove bacteria. Don’t use washcloths or loofahs; splash water on the skin.
• Aloe vera: This plant is a natural anti-inflammatory. Applying fresh aloe vera juice daily to the affected skin can help lessen skin damage from radiation therapy.
• Calendula cream: Known for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, studies show promising results in preventing and treating radiation burns.
• OTC hydrocortisone cream: For mild itching and burning, this cream can be applied thinly over the affected area three times a day but not within one hour of treatment.
• Prescription creams: Your healthcare provider may give you a corticosteroid or other prescription cream for your skin. Be sure to follow directions on when to apply any prescription cream.
  

Do They Go Away or Get Worse Over Time?

Radiation burns typically get better within a few weeks of radiation therapy ending. If your burns are causing more than mild to moderate symptoms, you must talk to your healthcare provider. Sometimes your radiation schedule or dosage can be changed to give burns more time to heal.

Summary

Radiation burns are a common side effect of radiation therapy and can cause symptoms such as pain, itching, and soreness ranging from mild to severe. The burns typically appear one to two weeks after starting radiation treatment and can continue for weeks after completing it. Try at-home care and OTC or prescription creams to help prevent burns and decrease their severity.

A Word From Verywell

Protecting and caring for your skin during and after radiation treatment is important until your burns are healed. Make sure to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions and consult with them if you are experiencing symptoms that interfere with your daily life. Although radiation burns can cause uncomfortable symptoms, they typically get better within a few weeks of finishing therapy.