X-rays are highly energetic waves of electromagnetic radiation which can break up molecular bonds in living organisms. This ionizing capability can have negative health effects when not addressed. While the information gained by x-ray procedures helps doctors by imaging body tissues to detect malformations or by destroying cancer cells in radiation treatment, it also can cause harm to healthy skin and other vital organs.
Harmful Effects On The Skin
Small degrees of exposure, such as in routine x-ray exams for diagnostic purposes, pose little threat because skin cells have natural protection against minute doses and can repair themselves.
However, large amounts as well as small but frequent doses of it can inflict damage to the skin's cells and tissues. Under normal conditions, skin cells continue to divide and replace old cells. Upon exposure to large doses of x-rays, the new cells are unable to replace old cells properly, thus creating a wrinkled rough surface. Collagen proteins that normally help maintain skin elasticity are damaged by x-rays, which detrimentally affect skin tone and texture.
Radiation exposure also weakens hair follicles and causes baldness, because the ability to regrow hair cells is impaired. X-rays not only destroy normal healthy skin cells, but also alter their genetic makeup. These mutations may cause the skin cells to turn into cancerous cells, which may not appear until years after the exposure.
Exposure to large amounts of x-ray radiation harms not only the skin but also the body's general ability to heal itself, leading to Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) or radiation sickness. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, low blood count and neurological dysfunction.
Who Is At Risk For Radiation Damage?
Cancer patients who have to undergo radiation therapy or people who need to have repeated x-rays of their bodies are most prone to skin damage from radiation. The risk of skin or organ damage from x-rays is higher for younger individuals.
Radiologists and medical technologists have a higher risk of exposure to large amounts of radiation, due to the large number of patients that are x-rayed under their guidance.
Prevention And Treatment
Prevention of excessive x-ray exposure is the most important thing, since it can have grave long term consequences well after the exposure. Patients generally do not need to worry about exposure to radiation used in medical imaging. Lead barriers may be used to prevent x-ray exposure to body parts not being imaged or treated.
X-ray technologists, doctors and nurses involved in medical imaging should take steps to reduce their risk of exposure. They should be cognizant of when the equipment is operating and stand behind a barrier that is opaque to x-rays during this time. They can also use protective garments, such as a lead vest or lead apron, to eliminate risk of excessive exposure.
Treatment of x-ray damaged skin is generally supportive through drug therapy, such as topical hydrocortisone ointments. Doctors may also prescribe collagen-enriched skin products. In more severe cases, the patient may need to be decontaminated with blood and fluid transfusions. Surgery may also be required to remove the skin cancer cells or to graft new healthy tissue.
Complementary to medical treatment of x-ray skin damage is a diet rich in vitamin B, calcium, iron, and antioxidants, which support healing of damaged tissues. Supplements such as multivitamins, probiotic drinks, ascorbic acid, and Omega 3 fatty acids may also help reduce the effects.
Author Resource:-
Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information about lead apron, please visit http://www.burmed.com
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