Caring for your skin during radiotherapy

It’s important to care for your skin when you have radiotherapy treatment.

Ask your medical team for advice about how to best do this before, during and after radiotherapy.

Tell the radiotherapy or nursing staff if you develop a skin reaction or if your skin reaction gets worse during treatment.

Your breast care nurse can also help with dressings if you need them.

These tips have been shared by others going through treatment and health professionals. They may help prevent or manage damage to the skin that happens as a result of radiotherapy.

Keep skin moisturised and hydrated

• Apply moisturising cream – for example, pure sorbolene – to unbroken skin after each radiotherapy session.
• Twice a day (or as your medical team advises), use plain moisturisers with no perfume and a balanced pH (acidity). For example, MooGoo is available at most pharmacies.
• Drink plenty of water to keep skin hydrated.

Avoid chemicals, heat and sun

• In the shower, avoid soap-based products, hot water, and rubbing or shaving the area.
• Avoid very hot water when showering as it can make skin dry and sore.
• Protect your skin from sun exposure during treatment. Wear sun-protective clothes or use sunscreen over the treated area.
• When you are outdoors, wear sun-protective clothes, a hat, and use sunscreen with SPF 50+.

Some products may make skin damage worse if you use them while you are having radiotherapy. Avoid:

• products containing alcohol
• perfumes
• dressings or creams containing metals
• talcum powder.

If you're unsure about a product, talk to your treating team.

Avoid rubbing, scratching or pressure

• After you shower, gently pat your skin dry and keep the skin folds as dry as possible.
• Wear soft, loose cotton clothes and avoid tight clothes that can rub.
• Avoid underwire bras, which put pressure on breast tissue during treatment and recovery.
• Don’t apply any tape or sticky (‘adhesive’) dressings to the treated skin.
• Protect the skin from things that will scratch it, for example use an electric razor if shaving, and do not use wax.
• Avoid massage to the affected area.
• Ask your radiotherapy treating team about a dressing (such as Mepitel film) or barrier to reduce skin reactions.