Use of chamomile tea to treat dry desquamation in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

Introduction: Radiation dermatitis is a common skin reaction resulting from exposure to ionizing radiation. It can manifest as erythema, dry desquamation, moist desquamation, ulceration, and necrosis. Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) has been used as anti-inflammatory, healing, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hemostatic, and skin irritation. Objective: To evaluate the effect of using a chamomile tea to treat dry desquamation in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Methods: Prospective intervention study, carried out from May 2019 to April 2021. Forty-three head and neck cancer patients aged 18 years or over with dry desquamation in the irradiated area during radiotherapy were included. Participants applied chamomile tea compress three times a day. The regression of dry desquamation until the end of radiotherapy was evaluated as total regression, partial regression, or no regression. Results: All participants showed regression of dry desquamation, and 62.8% (IC 47,7 -76,1) had total regression of dry desquamation until the end of radiotherapy. With the regression of dry desquamation, there was also an improvement in the appearance of the skin. Conclusion: The use of chamomile tea compress resulted in regression of dry desquamation in all participants.