Cindy,
actually the advice they told you isn't totally accurate. Creams can act as a "bolus" effect and cause the radiation to be intensified on the skin, causing far worse burns and skin damage. Everyone will react differently to the radiation anyway. Some, like myself, were fortunate enough to have a minor "sunburn effect" and others, like Harry, have really severe side effects. People with fair skin tend to fare worse during radiation.

My RO is the one who teaches all of the other RO's about IMRT, she is a clinical professor of IMRT specifically, at a top comprehensive cancer center, she says no creams, lotions or ointments while actually receiving the radiation treatment. Afterwards is fine but go in there with dry skin. They gave me some stuff specifically for radiation called Radiacare - which was mainly Aloe Vera anyway. Ice packs are standard burn care first aid, but if the skin is really raw, i.e., not intact and open to infection, insure that the icepacks are aseptically handled to minimize infections. And like Bellarte said, find pure aloe without alcohol in it. As far as using natural aloe (like from a plant), I woudn't do it if the skin is not intact.

The skin can also get very itchy towards the end of treatment so don't scratch it. They prescribed for me a steroidal cream for a short period of time that helped with that phase.

Bdean, your advice is right on the money. I might ad to that about using braided dental floss, which is far gentler on the gums, and also a baby's tooth brush for the dental care part of it. Mine had teddy bears on it (lol).

The good news is that the skin is the very first thing to heal post radiation.