Medical management of ionizing radiation-induced skin injury

Abstract

Skin radiation exposure occurs during planned or unplanned radiation events, such as radiotherapy or nuclear radiation accidents, respectively, resulting into acute and chronic effects depending upon the extent of the radiation exposure or contamination. Radioactive nuclide-induced contaminations severely affect the human skin as skin is the largest organ of the body. Skin radioactive contamination may result into radiation-induced burns that may significantly cause morbidity without any medical intervention. In such scenario, it is necessary to provide priority to severe and life-threatening injuries. The current review provides a holistic picture about the mode of occurrence of radiation injuries, types of radiation burns, local skin effects and pathophysiology, prognosis, diagnosis and treatment, and challenges in the management of radiation wounds. Further, the review also includes the dressings used for irradiated wounds and comparison of amniotic and silver dressings, which possess potential bactericidal and wound-healing properties.

Keywords

• contamination
• cutaneous radiation injury
• dressings
• wounds.