Aspirin Hydrogel for Radiation Scarring

Like many myeloma patients, I underwent local radiation therapy. Before I had any chemo to manage my multiple myeloma I underwent radiation therapy to zap a lytic lesion growing inside my tailbone. I wish I knew about aspirin hydrogel for radiation scarring at the time. While the radiation damage to my skin wasn’t serious, it lasted for years.

I say this because radiation-induced skin damage is common. As in most everyone who has undergone radiation understand the damage to his/her skin.

Like all side effects, the severity of radiation scarring can vary widely.

What are the different therapies shown to reduce skin damage from radiation?

1. Topical Agents

Corticosteroids: Topical corticosteroids like hydrocortisone and mometasone can reduce inflammation and prevent severe dermatitis.
Calendula: An herbal remedy shown to reduce the incidence of acute dermatitis in some studies.
Aloe Vera: Commonly used for its soothing properties, though clinical evidence is mixed.
Hyaluronic Acid: Applied topically to promote hydration and reduce skin irritation.
Silver Sulfadiazine: An antimicrobial cream that can prevent infections and soothe the skin.
Biafine: A topical emulsion often used to treat radiation dermatitis, with some studies showing its effectiveness.

2. Barrier Films and Dressings

Silicone-based Dressings: These can create a barrier that protects the skin from friction and moisture loss.
Hydrogel Dressings: Provide moisture to dry skin and help in the healing process.
Mepitel Film: A soft silicone dressing that reduces the severity of radiation dermatitis.

3. Systemic Agents

Pentoxifylline: An oral medication that can reduce radiation-induced fibrosis when used with vitamin E.
Vitamin E and C: Antioxidants that can help in reducing oxidative stress caused by radiation.
Amifostine: A cytoprotective agent that, when administered intravenously, can protect normal tissues from radiation damage.

4. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)

LLLT uses low-intensity lasers to promote tissue repair and reduce inflammation. It’s shown some efficacy in reducing skin damage and promoting healing.

5. Honey-Based Products

Honey has natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Some studies suggest honey-based dressings or gels can reduce radiation-induced skin damage.

6. Cooling Devices

Cooling Gel Pads: These can reduce the temperature of the skin, providing relief from pain and reducing inflammation.

7. Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT)

PBMT uses light to stimulate cellular repair processes, potentially reducing the severity of skin reactions to radiation.

8. Emollients and Moisturizers

Regular use of moisturizers helps maintain skin hydration and integrity. Products like Aquaphor or Eucerin are commonly recommended.

9. Oral Supplements

Curcumin: An active compound in turmeric with anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce radiation-induced skin damage.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Known for their anti-inflammatory effects, these may help in managing radiation dermatitis.

10. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment, which can accelerate wound healing and mitigate chronic radiation-induced skin damage.

11. Prophylactic Strategies

Avoiding Skin Irritants: Wearing loose clothing, avoiding sun exposure, and using mild soap can help prevent further irritation.
Gentle Skin Care: Recommendations often include avoiding hot water and using fragrance-free products to reduce irritation.

12. Anti-inflammatory Medications

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): These can be used systemically or topically to reduce inflammation and pain.

13. Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Treatments

These are still largely experimental but offer promise for repairing and regenerating damaged skin tissue.

Aspirin hydrogel for radiation scarring can be purchased over the counter. If you are about to undergo radiation therapy and are wondering about possible side effects you can email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com

Thank you,

David Emerson

MM Survivor
MM Cancer Coach
Director PeopleBeatingCancer

Multifunctional Glycopeptide-Based Hydrogel via Dual-Modulation for the Prevention and Repair of Radiation-Induced Skin Injury

“The radiation-induced skin injury (RISI) remains a great challenge for clinical wound management and care after radiotherapy, as patients will suffer from the acute radiation injury and long-term chronic inflammatory damage during the treatment.

The excessive ROS in the early acute stage and prolonged inflammatory response in the late healing process always hinder therapeutic efficiency. Herein, we developed an extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimetic multifunctional glycopeptide hydrogel (oCP@As) to promote and accelerate RISI repair via a dual-modulation strategy in different healing stages.

The oCP@As hydrogel not only can form an ECM-like nanofiber structure through the Schiff base reaction but also exhibits ROS scavenging and DNA double-strand break repair abilities, which can effectively reduce the acute radiation damage.

Meanwhile, the introduction of oxidized chondroitin sulfate, which is the ECM polysaccharide-like component, enables regulation of the inflammatory response by adsorption of inflammatory factors, accelerating the repair of chronic inflammatory injury.

The animal experiments demonstrated that oCP@As can significantly weaken RISI symptoms, promote epidermal tissue regeneration and angiogenesis, and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Therefore, this multifunctional glycopeptide hydrogel dressing can effectively attenuate RISI symptoms and promote RISI healing, showing great potential for clinical applications in radiotherapy protection and repair.”

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