Radiation therapy is commonly used to treat many forms of cancer. Radiation dermatitis can range from a mild burning, similar to a sunburn to severe wet desquamation.This can lead to treatment interruptions, decreased quality of life and skin infections.Typically, radiation damage appears 10-14 days after beginning therapy. A compound effect, it continues to increase in severity until about 10 days after the completion of therapy. 92-96% of all women status post lumpectomy for breast cancer will experience some form of skin reaction. Fewer than 10% will experience moist desquamation. Those with other forms of cancer have about a 40% incidence of skin reaction. Radiation Therapy (RT) is targeted at the cellular and nuclear membranes and the DNA molecules inside the cancer cells, rendering them unable to divide and proliferate. RT creates free radicals in deep tissue, specifically at those cancer cells. Collateral damage is sometimes seen on the outermost layers of the skin, the epidermis, presenting as dermatitis and other skin maladies. The first visual sign of this damage is darkening of the epidermis, as the melanocytes are found in the dermal–epidermal junction and can be damaged with radiation. People who have received chemotherapy along with radiation therapy are more susceptible to a skin reaction. Of note, the higher the dose of radiation therapy, the greater the risk of a skin reaction.