Aloe vera prevents radiation-induced dermatitis among the black population

Radiation-induced dermatitis is a major complication often encountered following radiotherapy, despite new improvement in irradiation techniques. The toxicity to the skin in this case varies from slight erythema, to ulcer and necrosis. The justification for this study is based on the fact that the literature has not arrived at any international standard of care to prevent radiation-induced dermatitis, thus most physicians use their clinical judgement, based on experience. The aim of the study was to examine the efficacy of Aloe vera lotion as a prophylactic agent for radiation induced dermatitis. Fifty-eight patients each with cervical carcinoma were recruited in the study into groups A (With prophylactic Aloe vera treatment) and B (Without Aloe vera). The grades of dermatitis in both groups were recorded two weeks after the completion of radiotherapy treatment. The data was analysed using SPSS version 20. The mean age was 53.2 ± 2.3 years and age ranged between 49-73 years. The commonest histological type of cancer of the cervix was squamous cell (87.1%), while the least was adenocarcinoma (5.2%). The maximum grade of radiation-induced dermatitis in both groups was grade III. The grade of skin reactions in group A was very much less than in group B, and this finding was statistically significant (p<0.001). The study demonstrated that Aloe vera was effective as a prophylactic agent for radiation-induced dermatitis.