Over 90% of patients who undergo modified radical mastectomy for their locally advanced disease requiring adjuvant chest wall radiotherapy develop radiation dermatitis. Breast cancer patients receiving chest wall radiotherapy develop acute skin toxicity (radiation dermatitis) during the course of radiotherapy or a short period after

the completion of radiotherapy.1,2 Chest Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical wall radiation dermatitis can decrease tolerance for continuing radiotherapy, negatively influence quality of life, postpone treatment, and cause treatment failure.1 For the all the research hitherto conducted on the management of radiation-induced dermatitis, a consensus has yet to emerge as to what constitutes the optimal care.2 Topical corticosteroids Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical comprise one group of the suggested agents for the treatment of radiation-induced dermatitis. Corticosteroids have anti-inflammatory effects, which may play a crucial role in alleviating patients’ complaints. Recent evidence Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical shows the efficacy of topical corticosteroids in this category.2,3 In addition, other local high throughput screening compounds treatments such as Dexpanthenol, Calendula, and honey ointment have been recommended for treating dermatitis.4,5 Another drug which has newly been introduced for the management of burning and infectious wounds is natural Henna (Lawsonia inermis linn),6 with some investigators providing evidence

for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties in wound healing as well.7-10 The data regarding the efficacy of Henna compounds in the management of burn and infected wounds are, however,

insufficient, and there are no optimal recommendations for skin care in breast cancer patients suffering Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical radiation dermatitis. This Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical study aimed to compare topical Alpha ointment and topical hydrocortisone cream (1%) in terms of their efficacy in the healing of radiation-induced dermatitis in breast cancer patients undergoing post-mastectomy chest wall radiotherapy. Patients and Methods This study is an open, randomized, controlled, phase II clinical trial. Eligible patients had newly pathologically proven, locally advanced breast cancer (treated with modified PAK6 radical mastectomy, followed by sequential adjuvant chemotherapy and chest wall radiotherapy [45-50.4 Gy]) and grade 2 and/or 3 radiation-induced dermatitis. Exclusion criteria consisted of any history of collagen vascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, taking any drugs interfering with the wound healing process like systemic steroids, previous history of chest wall radiotherapy, and concurrent use of chemotherapy. All the patients had to sign the consent form before participating in the study. This clinical trial was approved by the local Research Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.