Topical Biafine and Lipiderm for the prevention of radiation dermatitis: a randomized prospective trial

We evaluated the effects of Biafine and Lipiderm ointments in preventing radiation dermatitis. The study population included 74 patients after conservative surgery for early breast carcinoma who were referred for adjuvant external beam irradiation. Patients were randomized to receive Biafine or Lipiderm or no treatment. Both study preparations were applied twice daily, starting 10 days before onset of radiotherapy and continuing until 10 days after its completion. The skin treatment was upgraded, if clinically necessary, to steroids (grade 3), antibiotics (grade 4), or pause in therapy (grade 5). Success of treatment was evaluated according to the maximal level of skin treatment, the number of gaps in radiation therapy, the impression of the patients and the subjective skin reaction, and scores of the study nurse and radiotherapist. The three groups were comparable for all clinical features, except for a lower mean age of the Biafine group. Comparative analysis of the results showed no advantage for either preparation compared to the control arm other than maximal treatment level required for a skin reaction (mean 1.7 and 1.6 vs. 2.2), which did not reach statistical significance (p=0.145). Nevertheless, 86% of the patients in both the Biafine and Lipiderm arms expressed satisfaction with the respective ointments. In conclusion, neither Biafine nor Lipiderm seems to have a radioprotective effect.