An antiscarring paste when applied to the skin of mice halts fibrosis caused by the radiation used in cancer therapy, a new study demonstrates. The current study addressed a type of fibrosis called radiation dermatitis, which is a side effect experienced by as many as 95 percent of patients undergoing initial radiation treatment. Radiation applied to the skin causes the buildup of fibrotic tissue and skin thickening, with the effects severe enough in some patients to stop treatment.