Radiotherapy is mostly used in the treatment of cancer. The radiation destroys the cancer cells. The treatment causes skin reactions and unpleasant symptoms. During and after radiotherapy, several skin complaints can arise. These complaints can decrease if you take good care of your skin.
It is normal that your skin reacts to radiotherapy, it is a common side effect. The skin is damaged and skin problems (radiation dermatitis) can occur at the radiation site:
Sometimes more serious skin complaints also occur. By taking good care of your skin, you can alleviate these skin complaints. ALHYDRAN plays a useful role in treating the delicate irradiated skin.
Relieves pain, itching and redness
Protects and keeps the skin supple (hydrated)
Speeds up the repair of the skin
Excellent cream and efficient to use. Great for treatment at home after radiation. My skin is recovering quickly.
During and after a radiotherapy process I have used ALHYDRAN. It works great! It soothes the skin and makes the radiation area soft and supple. The scar is hardly visible anymore. I don't want anything else!
My skin was burned after radiation. ALHYDRAN is a great product, the skin repairs well and it prevents itching.
Radiotherapy (radiation) is a method of treating cancer with radiation. During radiotherapy, cancer cells are damaged in such a way that they cannot recover and die. The radiation damages the hereditary material of a cell, making it unable to divide and ultimately destroyed. Surrounding skin cells that are irradiated will also be damaged, but they repair themselves faster and better. Cancer cells are more sensitive to radiation than the cells of healthy tissue.
It is normal for your skin to react after radiation. The skin is damaged during radiotherapy, which can cause complaints. Initially there will be redness, later on the skin often becomes dry and starts itching and flaking, and a burning sensation develops. Ultimately, blisters and wounds may appear.
Mild skin reactions such as redness, itching and a burning sensation usually appear around two weeks after the first radiation. People with sensitive skin may experience these symptoms earlier. After that, the skin reactions will gradually worsen and become more problematic.
Skin reactions and problems generally disappear within four to six weeks after completion of the course of radiotherapy, even if the skin has opened. The dark-red or brown skin discolouration gradually fades, although sometimes leaving the skin a little darker.
Common skin complaints:
Sometimes more serious skin complaints occur:
The skin problems can gradually worsen after several radiation sessions. The skin only reacts where the radiation is applied, and the reaction is comparable to a sunburn.
The extent to which the skin responds to radiation depends on a number of factors:
Situations where the skin is extra vulnerable:
Parts of the body where skin problems are more likely to develop:
To identify the severity of skin problems after radiation, a grading system has been devised. The higher the grade, the more severe the skin damage.
The skin has to endure a lot during and after radiotherapy. During the treatment, the irradiated skin gradually becomes more damaged, causing skin reactions and ultimately unpleasant symptoms.
ALHYDRAN cares for this damaged skin. It protects the skin, keeps the skin supple (hydrated), helps relieve symptoms and speeds up the repair of the skin during and after radiotherapy. Using a hydrating cream has clinical benefits in the treatment of radiation dermatitis.
ALHYDRAN is a long-lasting and highly effective hydrating product. The cream is made from natural ingredients, with no added fragrances or metallic components such as zinc. It is pleasant to use and relieves symptoms fast.
Because ALHYDRAN spreads easily, it is easy and painless to apply to irradiated skin. It is absorbed easily into the skin, so there is no need to clean the skin additionally during radiation sessions.
Hydrating cream for radiotherapy after-care
The (oncology) department where you undergo treatment will advise you on skincare. Various Dutch radiotherapy centres advise and use our products.
Dutch practitioners have labelled ALHYDRAN as ‘a cream that increases patient comfort in Radiodermatitis’. This is stated in the National Consensus Method for Acute Skin Reactions to Radiotherapy. This method has been drawn up by radiotherapists, nurses and dermatologists from various Dutch radiotherapy centres.
ALHYDRAN is one of the few products with scientific and clinical evidence for its effectiveness. The results are particularly positive for itching.
Doctors and skin professionals show how they use ALHYDRAN for skin problems caused by radiotherapy. The study focuses on the treatment of one patient. View the diagnosis, symptoms and personal experience of the practitioner and patient when using ALHYDRAN after or during radiotherapy treatment.
