The tissue types were documented over the four-week period of the study by the nurses at Mount Vernon. Some patients were rated using three or more categories, for example dry, flaky, macerated, sloughy and crusting skin — particularly in more severe examples.
Interestingly, the severity of the skin reaction appeared to be more directly related to the nutritional status of the patients, rather than the radiotherapy dosage.
According to patient notes and clinical observation, the use of the PolyMem dressing in both dry and moist desquamation demonstrated significant reduction in skin reactions within the first week of treatment. One patient withdrew within two days of the study starting, as he could not tolerate any dressing.