Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRadiation Burn SymptomsBurn DegreesTreatmentsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Radiation Burn Symptoms
Burn Degrees
Treatments
Frequently Asked Questions
Radiation burns (radiation dermatitis) affect more than 90% of the approximately 4 million Americans who receiveradiation therapyfor cancer each year.
For many, radiation burns are mild and can easily be treated. However, about 20% of people who receive radiation therapy will have more serious burns whose symptoms can interfere with their daily lives.
This article examines why radiation burns occur, what they feel and look like, and how to treat them.
Xesai / Getty Images
Although anyone receiving radiation therapy can develop burns, studies show the burns are most common in those withbreast cancer,head and neck cancers, or cancers that develop on or near the skin, such asskinoranal cancers.
What Happens When You Get Radiation Burns?
Radiation therapy uses X-ray beams aimed from outside your body to kill cancer cells inside the body. These beams can also damage healthy cells. Because the radiation beams need to pass through your skin to reach the cancer,skin changessuch as burns can occur on or around thetreated areas.
Radiation burns don’t appear right away. Instead, they usually appear one to two weeks after starting treatment.Burns can develop even after your final radiation session because the therapy keeps working in the body after treatment is finished.
Appearance
Radiation burns are more likely to occur in areas of the body where skin touches skin, such as the armpits or under the breast, or areas that have had a lot ofsun exposure.Their appearance on the skin can include:
Weeping radiation burns, in which the skin becomes wet and sore, can also occur and usually appears in places where there are skinfolds, such as under the breasts or in the armpits.
Sensation
Radiation burns can be painful and feel similar to asunburn. Burns may feel:
What Degree Are Radiation Burns?
First-degreeburns appear as red, dry skin with moderate pain and itching.Second-degreeburns occur as red, moist skin that blisters. Pain and itching can be mild to severe.
First Aid for Radiation Burns
Seek emergency care if you have radiation burns and develop any of the following symptoms, which might signal an infection:AfeverSkin that’s unusually red or reddens quicklyLiquid draining or a bad smell coming from the burn
Seek emergency care if you have radiation burns and develop any of the following symptoms, which might signal an infection:
How They’re Treated
If you experience radiation burns, there are at-home, over-the-counter (OTC), and prescriptiontreatmentsto help, which can include:
To protect your skin from further irritation during radiation therapy, try to:Avoid putting anything too hot or cold, such as a heating pad or ice pack, or sticky, like a bandage, on your treated skin.Avoid shaving or using talcum powder, antiperspirant, or any products with fragrance on the treated areas.Wear sunscreen and sun-protective clothing if you go out in the sun; bundle up and cover your skin if you go out in the cold.
To protect your skin from further irritation during radiation therapy, try to:
Do They Go Away or Get Worse Over Time?
Radiation burns typically get better within a few weeks of radiation therapy ending. If your burns are causing more than mild to moderate symptoms, you must talk to your healthcare provider. Sometimes your radiation schedule or dosage can be changed to give burns more time to heal.
Radiation burns and other side effects of radiation therapy can also causemental and emotionalside effects. Seek help if you are experiencing anxiety or stress. Talk to your healthcare team about exercising, eating right, and getting enough rest—these things can help support your mental health during treatment.
Summary
Radiation burns are a common side effect of radiation therapy and can cause symptoms such as pain, itching, and soreness ranging from mild to severe. The burns typically appear one to two weeks after starting radiation treatment and can continue for weeks after completing it. Try at-home care and OTC or prescription creams to help prevent burns and decrease their severity.
A Word From Verywell
Protecting and caring for your skin during and after radiation treatment is important until your burns are healed. Make sure to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions and consult with them if you are experiencing symptoms that interfere with your daily life. Although radiation burns can cause uncomfortable symptoms, they typically get better within a few weeks of finishing therapy.
Frequently Asked QuestionsOver-the-counter hydrocortisone and prescription corticosteroid creams have been found to help with radiation burns. Evidence suggests calendula cream and fresh aloe vera can help heal radiation burns.Learn MoreWhat Is the Difference Between Cortisone and Hydrocortisone?When radiation therapy is finished, radiation burns typically improve within a few weeks.Learn MoreNatural Treatment for Radiation Side EffectsAlthough radiation therapy isn’t painful, the X-ray beams used during treatment can cause painful side effects such as skin changes, nausea, pain, andfatigue.Learn MoreManaging Side Effects of Radiation Therapy
Over-the-counter hydrocortisone and prescription corticosteroid creams have been found to help with radiation burns. Evidence suggests calendula cream and fresh aloe vera can help heal radiation burns.Learn MoreWhat Is the Difference Between Cortisone and Hydrocortisone?
Over-the-counter hydrocortisone and prescription corticosteroid creams have been found to help with radiation burns. Evidence suggests calendula cream and fresh aloe vera can help heal radiation burns.
Learn MoreWhat Is the Difference Between Cortisone and Hydrocortisone?
When radiation therapy is finished, radiation burns typically improve within a few weeks.Learn MoreNatural Treatment for Radiation Side Effects
When radiation therapy is finished, radiation burns typically improve within a few weeks.
Learn MoreNatural Treatment for Radiation Side Effects
Although radiation therapy isn’t painful, the X-ray beams used during treatment can cause painful side effects such as skin changes, nausea, pain, andfatigue.Learn MoreManaging Side Effects of Radiation Therapy
Although radiation therapy isn’t painful, the X-ray beams used during treatment can cause painful side effects such as skin changes, nausea, pain, andfatigue.
Learn MoreManaging Side Effects of Radiation Therapy
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Penn Medicine News.Cancer patients can now use skin creams during radiation therapy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to take care of your skin during and after radiation therapy.Cancer Treatment Centers of America.Radiation burns.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.How to care for your skin during radiation therapy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to care for your skin during and after radiation therapy.BreastCancer.org.Radiation therapy side effects.Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America.Radiation burns.Yang X, Ren H, Guo X, Hu C, Fu J.Radiation-induced skin injury: pathogenesis, treatment, and management.Aging(Albany NY). 16;12(22):23379-23393. doi:10.18632/aging.103932Simões FV, Santos VO, da Silva RN, da Silva RC.Effectiveness of skin protectors and calendula officinalis for prevention and treatment of radiodermatitis: an integrative review.Rev Bras Enferm.2020 Oct 19;73(suppl 5):e20190815. English, Portuguese. doi:10.1590/0034-7167-2019-0815
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Penn Medicine News.Cancer patients can now use skin creams during radiation therapy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to take care of your skin during and after radiation therapy.Cancer Treatment Centers of America.Radiation burns.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.How to care for your skin during radiation therapy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to care for your skin during and after radiation therapy.BreastCancer.org.Radiation therapy side effects.Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America.Radiation burns.Yang X, Ren H, Guo X, Hu C, Fu J.Radiation-induced skin injury: pathogenesis, treatment, and management.Aging(Albany NY). 16;12(22):23379-23393. doi:10.18632/aging.103932Simões FV, Santos VO, da Silva RN, da Silva RC.Effectiveness of skin protectors and calendula officinalis for prevention and treatment of radiodermatitis: an integrative review.Rev Bras Enferm.2020 Oct 19;73(suppl 5):e20190815. English, Portuguese. doi:10.1590/0034-7167-2019-0815
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Penn Medicine News.Cancer patients can now use skin creams during radiation therapy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to take care of your skin during and after radiation therapy.Cancer Treatment Centers of America.Radiation burns.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.How to care for your skin during radiation therapy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to care for your skin during and after radiation therapy.BreastCancer.org.Radiation therapy side effects.Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America.Radiation burns.Yang X, Ren H, Guo X, Hu C, Fu J.Radiation-induced skin injury: pathogenesis, treatment, and management.Aging(Albany NY). 16;12(22):23379-23393. doi:10.18632/aging.103932Simões FV, Santos VO, da Silva RN, da Silva RC.Effectiveness of skin protectors and calendula officinalis for prevention and treatment of radiodermatitis: an integrative review.Rev Bras Enferm.2020 Oct 19;73(suppl 5):e20190815. English, Portuguese. doi:10.1590/0034-7167-2019-0815
Penn Medicine News.Cancer patients can now use skin creams during radiation therapy.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to take care of your skin during and after radiation therapy.
Cancer Treatment Centers of America.Radiation burns.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.How to care for your skin during radiation therapy.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to care for your skin during and after radiation therapy.
BreastCancer.org.Radiation therapy side effects.
Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America.Radiation burns.
Yang X, Ren H, Guo X, Hu C, Fu J.Radiation-induced skin injury: pathogenesis, treatment, and management.Aging(Albany NY). 16;12(22):23379-23393. doi:10.18632/aging.103932
Simões FV, Santos VO, da Silva RN, da Silva RC.Effectiveness of skin protectors and calendula officinalis for prevention and treatment of radiodermatitis: an integrative review.Rev Bras Enferm.2020 Oct 19;73(suppl 5):e20190815. English, Portuguese. doi:10.1590/0034-7167-2019-0815
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
