Radiation-Induced Ulcers: Why They Occur and How to Treat Them

Understanding Radiation-Induced Ulcers

At the NYC Wound Care Center, we frequently treat complex chronic wounds, including radiation-induced ulcers. These are chronic wounds that develop as a result of radiation therapy, often used to treat cancer. Because the tissue damaged by radiation presents unique healing challenges, it’s important to understand why radiation-induced ulcers occur and how they can be treated effectively.

Radiation therapy is a powerful tool in fighting cancer, but its effects on healthy tissue sometimes lead to delayed complications. Skin injuries ranging from mild erythema to full-thickness ulcers occur in a high proportion of patients who undergo radiation therapy. In short, radiation-induced ulcers are not just delayed wounds—they reflect deep cellular, vascular, and tissue-level injury that complicates healing.

Why Radiation-Induced Ulcers Happen

Tissue and Vascular Damage

When radiation is delivered, it doesn’t only affect cancer cells—it also injures healthy skin, subcutaneous tissue, and microvasculature. Over time, this leads to fibrosis, reduced blood supply, and impaired oxygenation. Radiation damages both cancer cells and healthy tissues, leading to delayed skin regeneration, fragile blood vessels, and chronic inflammation.

Delayed Healing and Tissue Breakdown

Because the irradiated area has reduced capacity for regeneration, what might have been a minor insult such as pressure, friction, or surgery can break down into a non-healing wound. Radiation ulcers may become intractable if they don’t heal properly, are infected, or both. Chronic radiation injury can progress into open ulcers months or even years after therapy.

Typical Presentation in the Wound-Care Context

Radiation-induced ulcers often have early signs such as redness, thinning or peeling skin, persistent swelling, and a burning sensation. As they progress, the ulcers can become open, deep, and irregular-edged, with thickened fibrotic skin around the area and poor circulation.

In other words:

The skin has been weakened by radiation.
The micro-blood-supply is compromised.
The body’s normal healing cascade is disrupted.
Added pressure, minor trauma, or infection may trigger ulceration.

Because of all this, radiation-induced ulcers require specialized wound care beyond standard dressing changes.

How the NYC Wound Care Center Approaches Treatment

At NYC Wound Care Center, our focus is on personalized, advanced wound care. We offer specialized treatments for chronic wounds—including radiation-induced ulcers—with the same patient-focused approach used for all chronic wound management cases.

Comprehensive Assessment and Planning

First, we conduct a full evaluation:

Determine the wound characteristics such as size, depth, and tissue health
Assess underlying tissue damage, circulation, and radiation history
Consider whether infection, edema, or other factors like nutrition or mobility are impeding healing

Because radiation-induced ulcers are more complex, our multidisciplinary team works together to build a customized plan.

Advanced Therapies We Employ

We follow the same advanced treatment mindset as our other chronic wound cases, adapting to the unique needs of radiation-induced ulcers. Our services include:

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT): By supplying high-oxygen concentration under pressure, HBOT can stimulate new blood vessel formation and improve oxygen delivery to irradiated tissue.
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT): Also known as vacuum-assisted closure, this therapy helps remove exudate, reduce edema, and promote granulation tissue formation.
Debridement and Tissue Reconstruction: Removal of non-viable tissue, including fibrotic or irradiated tissue, is crucial. Radical excision of damaged tissue followed by reconstruction often leads to better outcomes in radiation-ulcer patients.
Bioengineered Skin Substitutes or Grafts: For areas where tissue support is compromised, skin substitutes or grafts can assist the healing process.
Infection Control, Nutrition, and Lifestyle Support: Since irradiated tissue is vulnerable, controlling infection, optimizing nutrition, and addressing circulation or edema are key adjuncts to the core wound-care modalities.

A Patient-Centered Approach

At NYC Wound Care Center, we focus on the individual, not just the wound. We partner with each patient—educating them on wound care techniques, helping optimize their health and lifestyle, and offering convenient clinic and home-care options.

What Patients Can Do to Support Healing

While the center handles the medical-technical side of care, patients also play a critical role. For someone with a radiation-induced ulcer, here are key actions:

Protect the irradiated skin zone and avoid friction, excessive pressure, or trauma.
Keep dressings clean and appropriate as advised by the specialist.
Attend all scheduled treatments and follow instructions on dressing changes.
Maintain good nutrition, manage comorbidities like diabetes or vascular disease, and stay hydrated.
Monitor for signs of infection such as increased redness, swelling, foul odor, drainage, or fever, and notify your wound-care team promptly.
Stay mobile as permitted and manage edema or circulation issues with leg elevation or compression if advised.

Healing with Expert Wound Care: Trust NYC Wound Care Center

At NYC Wound Care Center we understand that radiation-induced ulcers are not just another wound. They present a special challenge, but with advanced, evidence-based treatment and a compassionate, tailored approach, healing is possible. Our center combines cutting-edge therapies, experienced clinicians, and a focus on personal care to help patients recover faster and improve their quality of life.

Your Next Step Toward Recovery

If you or someone you care for is dealing with a non-healing wound after radiation therapy, contact NYC Wound Care Center today. Our team is ready to evaluate your case, design a personalized treatment plan for your radiation-induced ulcer, and guide you on the path to better healing.