What methods do you use to prophylactically reduce radiation dermatitis for head and neck irradiation?
My approach has been:
- Start Remedy (less greasy but less effective) and/or Aquaphor (more greasy but more effective) 3-4x daily at beginning of RT. Try to use Aquaphor at least at night when the greasiness is less bothersome. If patients have some other alcohol-free/non-anti-oxidant product they re...
With the important disclaimer that I am a private practice generalist/not an H&N subspecialist, earlier this year, I started adding mometasone once daily at nighttime to their daily instructed regimen after reading a bit more about its use in H&N (link), and I have been very happy with this regimen....
Great question and would also be interested in what others are doing.
I trained with recommending the use of an over-the-counter lotion/cream/gel containing aloe vera used twice daily starting the first day of radiation as a preventative, and (anecdotally at least) feel as an attending that it makes...
I recommend bleach baths prior to each radiation session to everyone starting radiation therapy. There haven’t been human studies yet, but in a mouse model, a 30-minute dilute bleach (0.005%) soak reduced radiation dermatitis. It’s simple and safe, so I recommend it to everyone. If they don’t want t...