The effectiveness of excimer laser on vitiligo treatment in comparison with a combination therapy of Excimer laser and tacrolimus in an Iranian population

Abstract

Our study shows that Iranian patients with vitiligo who received a combined treatment course with 308-nm EL and tacrolimus 0.1% experienced significantly higher levels of repigmentation in comparison with laser therapy alone.

Comparison of the efficacy of 308‐nm excimer lamp monotherapy with topical tacrolimus or clobetasol 17‐propionate combination therapies in localized vitiligo

“…In that study after 24 sessions, >75% repigmentation was achieved in 50% of the lesions that received combined therapy, while it was only 20% for the lesions that received monotherapy (11). Studies conducted at later stages also supported this outcome (22)(23)(24). It was reported that this synergistic effect might be due to the activation of pathways responsible for melanocyte migration and melanogenesis (19).…”

The Epidemiology and Treatment of Vitiligo: A Chinese Perspective

“…The safety and efficacy of topical calcineurin inhibitors in patients with vitiligo has been evaluated in recent years [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61]. Two left-right comparative studies showed that tacrolimus had similar effects to clobetasol propionate 0.05% in the treatment of pediatric patients [51,52].…”

“…After the clinical trial, 61.7% of patients continued to use tacrolimus ointment, indicating that they were satisfied with the effects of tacrolimus and had a strong desire to continue the treatment [57]. Some studies showed that tacrolimus combined with narrowband UVB or 308-nm excimer laser therapy was superior to phototherapy alone or tacrolimus monotherapy [60,61]. The common side-effects of tacrolimus ointment were skin irritation (burning sensation, pruritus and erythema).…”

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of 308‐nm excimer laser as monotherapy and combination therapy with topical tacrolimus in the treatment of periocular vitiligo

“…Phototherapy combined with other treatments can provide higher efficiency, quicker onset of action and better adherence to treatment 6 . Since Kawalek et al 14 first reported the synergistic effect of topical tacrolimus combined with 308‐nm EL in 2004, many studies have demonstrated that 308‐nm EL combined with TCI is more efficient than 308‐nm EL monotherapy in the treatment of vitiligo 15–20 . However, there is no literature illuminating combined therapy is better for the special vitiligo region like the periocular skin.…”