Lymphoma arising from the skin is the second most common site of extra-nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Over the last 25 years, the incidence has been rising. There is now a new World Health Organization/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer joint classification for cutaneous lymphomas and new proposed International Society for Cutaneous Lymphomas/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer staging systems. This overview examines the role of radiotherapy in the current management of cutaneous T- and B-cell lymphomas encompassing technological advances, new systemic therapies and novel radio-enhancing therapies now available. Modern total skin electron beam radiotherapy and the current low-dose and combination approaches are reviewed. Radiotherapy has remained the most successful treatment for cutaneous lymphoma over the last 50 years and with the technological advances and combination approaches available now and in the future will remain so for the next 50 years.