Tetrahydrocurcuminoid Cream Plus Targeted Narrowband UVB Phototherapy for Vitiligo: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Targeted narrowband UVB phototherapy plus topical tetrahydrocurcuminoid cream was slightly more effective than targeted narrowband UVB monotherapy for vitiligo located in UV-sensitive areas. However, the differences in degrees of repigmentation did not reach statistically significant levels.

Topical application of a sandal wood oil and turmeric based cream prevents radiodermatitis in head and neck cancer patients undergoing external beam radiotherapy: a pilot study

“…19 True to this accreditation, turmeric has been shown to be useful in the treatment of various skin diseases, inflammation, abscess, eczema, leucoderma, bruises, wounds, urticaria, psoriasis and acne. 19 Scientific studies carried out during the past three decades have shown that turmeric and its chief phytochemical curcumin possess wound-healing, [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] anti-ageing, 31,32 anti-psoriatic [33][34][35] properties and are also effective against UV-induced skin damage [36][37][38][39][40] and chemical carcinogenesis [41][42][43][44][45][46] and provide remarkable symptomatic relief for cancer patients when applied topically. 47 Clinical studies have shown that daily intake of 6 g of curcumin during the course of radiotherapy reduces the severity of radiation dermatitis in patients with breast cancer.…”

The Role of Phytochemicals in the Inflammatory Phase of Wound Healing

“…In another study, topical application of curcumin in excised wounds in rats not only showed faster epithelialization than control but also showed reduced lipid peroxidase levels, in addition to the significant upregulation of anti-oxidant enzymes such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (Figure 1) [48]. Interestingly, in inflammatory and oxidative stress-induced conditions such as vitiligo [49], topical curcumin has also shown promise in clinical trials [50]. It will be interesting to see the efficacy of topical curcumin on human diabetic wounds.…”

Review of current clinical studies of vitiligo treatments

“…Besides application of topical agents as adjuvants to surgical procedures mentioned above , 26 additional studies included topical agents , nearly half of which (12 studies) included phototherapy in addition to topical agents . Efficiency of topical agents to improve phototherapy outcome was addressed in nine studies, five of which used nbUVB.…”

“…Remaining topical agents studied were 5FU , Cucumis melo extract , tetrahydrocurcuminoid cream , and placental extract . Neither of them with the exception of 5FU showed any activity in inducing or contributing to repigmentation of vitiligo lesions either alone (tetrahydrocurcuminoid cream, which is a commercially available formulation) or in combination with phototherapy ( C. melo extract, placental extract).…”