Recent Advances in Understanding of Radiation-Induced Skin Tissue Reactions with Respect to Acute Tissue Injury and Late Adverse Effects

August 2025 in “ Journal of Radiation Research ”

Keiko Iwashita, Keiji Suzuki, Mitsuaki Ojima

radiation-induced skin tissue reactions acute tissue injury late adverse effect skin cancer keratinocytes immune cells cell death photobiomodulation therapy skin appendages regeneration

Studysummary This review discusses advances in understanding the mechanisms behind radiation-induced skin reactions, highlighting recent insights into the roles of stem cells and immune cells in injury mitigation and late carcinogenesis, as reported in the context of ionizing radiation exposure. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The document reviews recent advances in understanding radiation-induced skin tissue reactions, focusing on both acute injuries and late effects such as skin cancer. It highlights the mechanisms behind these reactions, including the roles of keratinocytes and immune cells, and the types of cell death induced by radiation. The review emphasizes the importance of early intervention and personalized treatment strategies to mitigate these effects. It also explores potential therapeutic approaches, such as photobiomodulation therapy, to improve patient outcomes and reduce the long-term impact of radiation on skin tissue. Despite advances, further research is needed to fully understand and manage these adverse reactions, particularly in the regeneration of skin appendages post-radiation.

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Keratinocyte Stem Cells but Not Melanocyte Stem Cells Are the Primary Target for Radiation-Induced Hair Graying