Managing radiation burning

A good article this month in Cure magaine:  http://www.curemagazine.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/article.show/id/2/article_id/2268

Here is an excerpt:

"MANAGEMENT > Radiation burns and skin irritation can interrupt treatment if not managed early and properly. Patients are advised to wear loose-fitting clothing, avoid fabrics that can cause itchiness and check with a healthcare provider before using lotions, perfumes or deodorants.

Gently washing the affected skin with lukewarm water and a mild soap is recommended as a practical step to prevent infection.

Creams: Calendula ointment and silver sulfadiazine cream are considered effective topical treatments. An herbal extract from the marigold plant, calendula has anti-inflammatory properties. A large, phase 3 study showed that topical calendula cream reduced pain, treatment interruptions and incidence of moderate skin reactions, such as severe redness and pain, during radiation therapy.

Silver sulfadiazine cream, an antibacterial agent, can be used for moist desquamation to reduce the risk of infection. Studies have also shown that, compared with no treatment at all, it helps to reduce the severity of radiation dermatitis.

Low-dose topical corticosteroids might help reduce irritation and itching, but they should be discontinued if moist desquamation occurs. Some studies have shown that they significantly reduce the severity of skin reactions, but no specific agent was shown to be superior.

In a small study of women receiving breast radiation, a commercially available barrier film reduced skin toxicities and itching. Hyaluronic acid is another topical cream that has shown some evidence of reducing the severity of skin reactions."

There is more about dressings and other helpful info, but I didn't want to copy the entire article.