Carbon dioxide laser plus topical 5-fluorouracil: a new combination therapeutic modality for acral vitiligo.

A New Approach to Treating Acral Vitiligo

The world of dermatology is constantly evolving, and researchers are always on the lookout for new and effective treatments for conditions like acral vitiligo. This research delves into the realm of treating acral vitiligo, a condition that affects the skin of the hands and feet and is notoriously difficult to treat. The study investigates the effectiveness and safety of combining a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser with 5-fluorouracil (5FU) for acral vitiligo.

The study, conducted on 68 adult patients with acral vitiligo, randomly assigned participants to three groups. Group I received treatment with 5FU, Group II with CO2 laser, and Group III with CO2 laser followed by 5FU. After a maximum treatment period of 5 months, researchers evaluated the effectiveness and safety of these treatments.

Promising Results for a Challenging Condition

The results showed that the combined CO2 laser and 5FU treatment (Group III) led to a statistically significant increase in repigmentation compared to the other two groups. Almost half (49.8%) of the lesions in Group III showed G4, and 6.1% showed G3 repigmentation. These findings are encouraging considering the difficulty in treating acral vitiligo.

Hope for Patients with Acral Vitiligo

The combination of CO2 laser and 5FU appears to offer a safe and tolerable approach to treating acral vitiligo. The side effects were generally mild and temporary, including transient hyperpigmentation, brownish spots on nail plates, itching, and infections. The study did not detect any cases of Koebnerization, a phenomenon that can occur with some vitiligo treatments and lead to the spread of the condition. This suggests that this combined treatment approach could be a promising new option for patients with acral vitiligo, potentially leading to improved repigmentation and patient compliance.

Dr.Camel's Conclusion

The desert of vitiligo research is vast, and finding effective treatments can feel like searching for a mirage. This study reveals a potential oasis in the form of a combined CO2 laser and 5FU treatment. While more research is needed to fully understand its long-term effectiveness, this study offers hope for patients seeking a more effective and tolerable treatment for acral vitiligo.