Mepilex Lite dressings for the management of radiation-induced erythema: a systematic inpatient controlled clinical trial

Erythema occurs in 80-90% of women treated for breast cancer with radiation therapy. There is currently no standard treatment for radiation-induced skin reactions. This study investigates the clinical efficacy of Mepilex Lite dressings in reducing radiation-induced erythema in women with breast cancer. A total of 28 patients were recruited; of these, 24 participants presented with 34 erythematous areas of skin for analysis. When erythema was visible, each affected skin area was randomly divided into two similar halves: one half was treated using Mepilex Lite dressings, the other half with standard aqueous cream. Skin reactions were assessed by the Radiation-Induced Skin Reaction Assessment Scale. We also evaluated any potential dose build-up by the dressings using a white water phantom, the dose distribution over the breast via thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) and the surface skin temperature with an infrared thermographic scanner. Mepilex Lite dressings significantly reduced the severity of radiation-induced erythema compared with standard aqueous cream (p < 0.001), did not affect surface skin temperature and caused only a small (0.5 mm) dose build-up. TLD measurements showed that the inframammary fold was exposed to significantly higher doses of radiation than any other breast region (p < 0.0001). Mepilex dressings reduce radiation-induced erythema.