Research progress of traditional Chinese medicine in prevention and treatment of radiation-induced skin injury / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

ABSTRACT

Radiation-induced skin injury refers to the acute and chronic skin damage caused when skin is exposed to radiation. Radiation-induced skin damage may be created by nuclear disaster, radiation accident, radiation therapy, occupational exposure and so on. Approximately 95% of patients receiving radiotherapy will eventually develop into radiation-induced dermatitis during or after the treatment. As a consequence, how to appropriately prevent and remedy radiation-induced skin injury is of great practical significance. According to traditional Chinese medicine, radiation-induced skin injury belongs to fire, heat and toxin, blocking Qi and blood, injuring the muscle surface, affecting the distribution of Qi, blood and body fluid in the body, and damaging the function of viscera. This paper summarizes the cognition and development of traditional Chinese medicine theory of radiation-induced skin injury, as well as the research progress of internal and external treatment of traditional Chinese medicine, so as to provide a basis for the research and treatment of radiation-induced skin injury with traditional Chinese medicine.