Treatment of stable nonsegmental vitiligo using transdermal delivery of 5-fluorouracil by fractional CO2 laser versus intralesional injection of 5-fluorouracil, both followed by narrow-band type ultraviolet B (UVB): A comparative study

Assessment of Efficacy on the Treatment of Localized Vitiligo With a Combination of 308 nm Excimer Light and 2940 Erbium Laser: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

A 308 nm excimer light is an effective treatment for vitiligo, with fewer treatment times, rapid obvious effects, relatively complete pigment recovery, good patient compliance, and safe and effective treatment for children. The disadvantage of this treatment is that some patients have a plateau during which the skin lesion reduction rate slows down or stalls after multiple treatments.

METHODS

Treatment data were collected from all vitiligo patients in the Dermatology Department, distinguishing between those who underwent 308 nm excimer light treatment alone and those who received a combination of 308 nm excimer light and 2940 erbium laser treatment.

RESULTS

Of the 104 patients, 60 were treated with 308 nm excimer light only, and 44 were treated with a combination of a 2940 erbium laser and 308 nm excimer light. In contrast to the treatment of 308 nm excimer light alone, the combined treatment of the 2940 erbium laser and 308 nm excimer light significantly increased the speed and degree of repigmentation in vitiligo.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that the combination of 308 nm excimer light and 2940 nm erbium laser treatment can improve the treatment response for vitiligo, decrease the occurrence of treatment plateaus associated with 308 nm excimer light, and improve efficacy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR2000036712 (24/08/2020).

Phototherapy for vitiligo: A narrative review on the clinical and molecular aspects, and recent literature

BACKGROUND

Vitiligo is characterized by depigmented patches resulting from loss of melanocytes. Phototherapy has emerged as a prominent treatment option for vitiligo, utilizing various light modalities to induce disease stability and repigmentation.

AIMS AND METHODS

This narrative review aims to explore the clinical applications and molecular mechanisms of phototherapy in vitiligo.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The review evaluates existing literature on phototherapy for vitiligo, analyzing studies on hospital-based and home-based phototherapy, as well as outcomes related to stabilization and repigmentation. Narrowband ultra-violet B, that is, NBUVB remains the most commonly employed, studied and effective phototherapy modality for vitiligo. Special attention is given to assessing different types of lamps, dosimetry, published guidelines, and the utilization of targeted phototherapy modalities. Additionally, the integration of phototherapy with other treatment modalities, including its use as a depigmenting therapy in generalized/universal vitiligo, is discussed. Screening for anti-nuclear antibodies and tailoring approaches for non-photo-adapters are also examined.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this review provides a comprehensive overview of phototherapy for vitiligo treatment. It underscores the evolving landscape of phototherapy and offers insights into optimizing therapeutic outcomes and addressing the challenges ahead. By integrating clinical evidence with molecular understanding, phototherapy emerges as a valuable therapeutic option for managing vitiligo, with potential for further advancements in the field.

Dynamic panoramic presentation of skin function after fractional CO2 laser treatment

Fractional CO2 laser, as a typical ablative laser, has been used to assist in the treatment of many skin diseases, such as photoaging, atrophic scar, hypertrophic scar, superficial pigmentation, vitiligo, and so on. However, the dynamic changes in skin function after fractional CO2 laser treatment are still unclear. This study explored the changes in local skin function and possible regulatory mechanisms after fractional CO2 laser treatment for 1, 3, 5, and 7 days through transcriptome high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that fractional CO2 laser tended to transform the "lesions" into "normal skin", regulate the skin barrier, coordinate the rearrangement of collagen, enhance the local microvascular circulation, activate the immune system to secrete a large number of cytokines, and act as an auxiliary tool to assist drug transport. In conclusion, according to the basic principle of destruction before reconstruction, fractional CO2 laser plays a key role of balancer in skin reconstruction.