Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Fibrosis: Pathophysiology, Emerging Therapeutics, and the Role of Dermatology
February 2026
in “
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology
”
radiotherapy-induced skin fibrosis fibroblast activation ionizing radiation tissue remodeling pentoxifylline vitamin E oral statins corticosteroids laser therapies manual therapies deferoxamine microneedling stem cell-based interventions radiation skin fibrosis skin fibrosis radiation therapy skin thickening skin hardening statins steroids laser treatment stem cell therapy
TLDR Radiotherapy can cause skin fibrosis, which is often overlooked and needs better treatment and evaluation.
Radiotherapy-induced skin fibrosis is a chronic complication of radiotherapy that affects patients' function, aesthetics, and quality of life, yet it is often under-recognized and undertreated. It results from sustained inflammation and fibroblast activation due to ionizing radiation, leading to tissue remodeling and fibrosis. Current therapeutic strategies include pentoxifylline with vitamin E, oral statins, corticosteroids, and various laser and manual therapies, though their efficacy varies. Emerging treatments like deferoxamine, microneedling, and stem cell-based interventions show promise. However, predicting and grading fibrosis remains challenging, and many patients lack dermatologic evaluation. Dermatology should spearhead efforts to integrate diverse interventions, develop diagnostic frameworks, and conduct clinical trials to improve outcomes for cancer survivors.
