Skin Damage from Radiation Therapy? Curcumin to the Rescue!

Skin damage is a very common side effect of radiation therapy for cancer. It can badly affect quality of life, and there is no approved conventional treatment. A recent systematic review suggests that there just might be a natural one.

Radiodermatitis, or skin damage, from radiation affects up to 95% of people undergoing treatment. Damage to the skin ranges from redness to photosensitivity to excess sweating, abnormal pigmentation, threadlike patterns on the skin, hair loss, ulcers and tissue death. The skin damage can interfere with quality of life and continued treatment.

Preventing and treating skin damage is crucial, and curcumin may offer real help.

This exciting systematic review included five studies of topical and oral curcumin. Four of the five found decreased intensity of skin damage. One demonstrated that curcumin cream delays and reduces skin damage. One topical study and one oral study showed that curcumin reduces the intensity of radiodermatitis. And another showed that oral curcumin supplements reduce the side effects of radiation across a variety of cancers. The research also shows that, by reducing skin damage, curcumin improves quality of life.

This review of the research “provides substantial evidence” that curcumin “has significant beneficial effects on RD [radiodermatitis] severity.”

Avicenna J Phytomed. 2024 May-Jun;14(3):297–304.

For the latest research to keep you and your family healthy, get The Natural Path delivered to your inbox each month for only $29.99 a year: Subscribe!

For comprehensive natural help with your health, make an in person or virtual appointment to see Linda Woolven now. 

The Natural Path is intended for educational purposes only and is in no way intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For health problems, consult a qualified health practitioner for a comprehensive program.

Ask your health food store for The Natural Path Newsletter