Acute radiation
dermatitis is a common adverse effect in patients undergoing
radiotherapy for
breast cancer. However, the effects of
radiotherapy on biophysical properties of the skin have rarely been investigated. In this prospective cohort study, we seek to determine the effects of
radiotherapy for
breast cancer on skin biophysical parameters. We measured various skin biophysical parameters (skin hydration, pH, sebum level, pigmentation, and blood flow) in 144
breast cancer patients by non-invasive techniques before and after
radiotherapy. The measurements were simultaneously performed on the irradiated breast and the corresponding contralateral unirradiated breast for comparison. Following
radiotherapy, the irradiated breast showed a significant decrease in skin hydration, increase in skin pH, increase in pigmentation, and increase in cutaneous blood flow. The contralateral unirradiated breast showed a slight increase in pigmentation but no significant changes in any of the other biophysical parameters after
radiotherapy. No significant associations were found between patient characteristics (
diabetes mellitus,
hypertension, type of surgery,
chemotherapy,
hormone therapy) and changes in skin biophysical parameters following
radiotherapy. In conclusion,
radiation therapy for
breast cancer induces measurable and significant changes in biophysical properties of the skin including hydration, pH, pigmentation, and blood flow. These findings give us a greater understanding of the effects of ionizing radiation on skin physiology, and provide non-invasive and objective methods to assess radiation
dermatitis.