Evaluation of the additional effect of topical 5-fluorouracil to needling in the treatment of localized vitiligo

Background Microneedling is a valuable tool that can be used in transdermal drug delivery in vitiligo patients to improve drug permeability and efficacy with minor side effects. Aims The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of using microneedling prior to application of topical 5-FU in treatment of localized vitiligo and to compare its results with microneedling alone. Methods Twenty-seven patients with localized stable vitiligo are chosen. Two patches are determined in every patient: patch A treated with needling alone and patch B treated with needling followed by topical application of 5-fluorouracil once every 2 weeks for three months. Repigmentation was accessed by grades ranging from G0; no response to G4; >75% repigmentation. Side effects were reported in every visit. Results Microneedling followed by topical application of 5-fluorouracil showed better response than needling alone with minimal side effects. Conclusion Combining microneedling with topical drug application yields better results in treating localized vitiligo.