The use of a micronutrient containing moisturizing lotion to promote skin health in patients undergoing radiation treatment for breast cancer

Introduction:  Radiation therapy damages the DNA of cancerous cells to eradicate them. However, the skin may sustain damage as a result of radiation therapy that manifests as erythema, tenderness and denudation, and these side effects can interrupt radiation therapy and negatively impact treatment progress. In severe cases, radiation therapy must be halted to allow the skin to heal. There are numerous guidelines for optimal skin care for patients undergoing radiation therapy that include the use of evidence based product therapies for prophylaxis, but these are expensive. Typically, patients who are not covered by insurance at this facility cannot afford these more expensive products. In our radiation oncology unit, we observed frequent skin breakdown that necessitated additional skin management at week 4 of therapy despite the use of some affordable emollients and lotions. In 2012, a moisturizer with micronutrition was evaluated in a six week pilot study. The purpose of this study was to investigate the implementation of this affordable moisturizer with micronutrients as the standard of care for patients at risk of developing radiation dermatitis.

Methods: A retrospective X-month study was done for patients who met the inclusion criterion requiring that they be receiving radiation therapy. As part of their skin management, these patients were required to apply the study product two times a day during their radiation treatments. Skin health was monitored during the radiation therapy visits. The majority of these patients were breast cancer patients.

Results and Conclusion:  In the pilot study, there were no cases of erythema or skin breakdown over the six weeks we studied the patients. Similarly, this retrospective study has reinforced our decision to utilize the moisturizer with micronutrients as the standard of care a prophylactic for the skin health of patients at risk of developing radiation dermatitis.

*Remedy Phytoplex® Nourishing Skin Cream, Medline Industries Inc.