Omidvari, S., Saboori, H., Mohammadianpanah, M., Mosalaei, A., Ahmadloo, N., Mosleh-Shirazi, M.A., . . . Namaz, S. (2007). Topical betamethasone for prevention of radiation dermatitis. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 73, 209–214.
To investigate whether the prophylactic use of topical betamethasone 0.1% can prevent acute radiation dermatitis
Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: betamethasone, petrolatum, or no treatment. The treatment delivery protocol was the same for all groups. Education on the amount of skincare product to use was consistent.
The study used a randomized double-blind controlled trial design.
By the third week (30 Gy), 26.3% of the betamethasone group had grade 1 skin toxicity compared to 64.7% and 66.7% of the petroleum and control groups, respectively (p = 0.027). By the seventh week, 15.8% of the betamethasone patients had grade I skin toxicity, 6.7% of the control group had grade I, and 100% of the petroleum group had grade II or higher.
Acute radiation dermatitis increased over time for all groups. The betamethasone group had lower prevalence at one time point; however, at the end of treatment, acute radiation dermatitis was lower in the untreated controls.