When does desquamation occur after radiation exposure?

Desquamation refers to the shedding or peeling of the outer layer of skin and occurs as a result of cellular damage due to radiation exposure. The timing of desquamation is important in understanding the acute effects of radiation on the skin.

Typically, desquamation happens around 2 weeks after exposure to significant doses of radiation. This period allows for the initial radiation effects, such as erythema (redness of the skin), to develop first. After such initial reactions, the skin may undergo the process of desquamation, where the damaged epidermal cells are replaced or shed as a way for the body to attempt to heal itself from the radiation-induced injury.

In contrast, immediate reactions would typically involve more immediate symptoms like erythema without the sloughing effect, while desquamation happening much earlier, such as 2 days after exposure, does not align with the gradual progression of skin reaction timelines post-radiation. A timeframe of 1 month after exposure is also too late for desquamation to be reported as a direct effect, as most of the skin reactions would have already been well established by that time.

Understanding the timeframe for desquamation is crucial in managing patients who have undergone radiation therapy, as it informs both