What should a nurse advise a patient undergoing teletherapy radiation treatments about skin care?

When advising a patient undergoing teletherapy radiation treatments about skin care, it's important to emphasize the need to avoid heat and cold to the treatment area. Radiation therapy can cause skin sensitivity and irritation, meaning that extreme temperatures can exacerbate these side effects. Heat may increase blood flow to the area, leading to further irritation, while cold can cause additional damage to already sensitive tissues. Therefore, keeping the skin at a stable and moderate temperature is crucial for promoting healing and comfort during treatment.

In contrast, applying ointments, using topical steroids, or gently exfoliating may not be appropriate during this time. Ointments could potentially irritate the skin further or interfere with the treatment area, topical steroids may not be recommended as they can thin the skin, and exfoliation might cause unnecessary trauma to the already sensitive skin. Therefore, the focus on avoiding any agents or treatments that could compromise skin integrity is key in managing skin care for patients undergoing radiation therapy.