Researchers have developed a reusable fabric that can help reduce the adverse effects of radiation therapy on the skin. Radiodermatitis is a common side effect of radiation therapy, which damages the skin and alters cellular DNA. Symptoms of radiodermatitis can include pain, itching, and lesions that can be both erosive and ulcerative. While skin changes can occur from the beginning of exposure, acute reactions typically peak at the end of treatment.
To address this issue, a company called MLS Textiles 1992 S.L. worked with the Instituto Tecnológico Textil (AITEX) to develop a fabric called Regenactiv®. The fabric is effective in treating radiodermatitis when used in sheets for bedridden patients and in fabric dressings for wound treatment. The fabric was recently tested in top format for breast radiotherapy in collaboration with the biomedical group Ascires. The results were very satisfactory and were presented at Madrid’s 4th Spanish Breast Congress.
What sets the Regenactiv® fabric apart is that it is reusable and has been tested in more than 135 washing cycles by AITEX laboratories. The fabric retains its absorption properties, and its antibacterial and antifungal properties are maintained during this long period with proper use of the garment.
In a clinical case study, a 78-year-old woman who received radiotherapy for a recurrence of tongue epidermoid carcinoma developed radiodermatitis. Her symptoms were treated with 12-hourly dressings with Rym healing cream and gauze, and she received home care and primary care. While her case was severe and required extensive care, the use of Regenactiv® fabric helped to reduce the severity of her symptoms. The trials validated that the antibacterial and antifungal properties of chitosan and silver in Regenactiv® are maintained during this long period, with proper use of the garment.
The study demonstrates that Regenactiv® can help preserve the skin’s integrity and alleviate the symptoms of radiodermatitis, ultimately improving the quality of life of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Further trials and research are needed to determine the full extent of Regenactiv®‘s efficacy in treating radiodermatitis.
Summary of: New Textile Technologies for the Prevention and Care of Skin Lesions Due to Radiodermatitis, by Jorge Grau Crespo et al.
Link to the article: https://journals.modernsciences.org/index.php/msj/article/view/25
References
- Crespo, J. G., Ordiales, A. Á., & Fenollar, C. T. (2023). New Textile Technologies for the Prevention and Care of Skin Lesions Due to Radiodermatitis. Modern Sciences Journal, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.57184/msj.v12i1.25
