Effectiveness of the products used in the prevention of radiodermatitis in patients with breast cancer. A systematic review

INTRODUCTION: Radiotherapy is one of the most widely used treatments in palliative patients, with radiodermatitis being the most frequent side effect of radiation therapy, affecting 85-95 % of cancer patients undergoing this treatment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review was to identify the products with greater efficacy in the prevention of radiodermatitis in patients with breast cancer. METHODOLOGY: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials on the prevention of radiodermatitis in patients with breast cancer receiving non-concomitant radiotherapym was performed. The studies were collected from the PubMed, Lilacs, CINHAL, Trip, and Proquest Health & Medical Complete databases, and included those published in the last 6 years (2021 to 2018) either in English or Spanish. RESULTS: Products effective in preventing radiodermatis included: enteral glutamine, oral curcumin, clear film dressings, silver sulfadiazine, polymer barrier film or cream, mometasone furoate, cream with 1 % hydrocortisone, melatonin cream, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) cream. The use of hyaluronic acid and aloe vera is not recommended. Radiodermatitis did not improve with the use of moisturizers, calendula, boswellia, allantoin, or emu oil. CONCLUSIONS: In the prevention of dermatitis by radiotherapy, the use of products whose purpose is to protect the skin, such as film-type dressings and creams, or films with polymer barriers, is effective. In addition to immune system enhancing products (enteral glutamine), and to products with antioxidant properties (oral curcumilla, melatonin cream or epidermal growth factor), other products such as corticosteroids and topical antibiotics are effective, but their long-term use is associated with side effects