Topical fluorouracil improves actinic keratoses and photoaging

Topical application of the chemotherapy medication fluorouracil appears to reduce potentially precancerous skin patches and improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin.

The new study reported in the June issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Fluorouracil stops the body from synthesizing thymine, a building block of DNA, according to background information in the article. This drug is used to treat cancers of the colon, head and neck, pancreas and other organs.

In early studies of patients with cancer undergoing treatment with systemic fluorouracil, clinicians noticed changes in skin appearance, which led to the development of a topical therapy for the treatment of actinic keratoses (skin lesions that may develop into skin cancer).

Dana L. Sachs, M.D., of the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, and colleagues evaluated molecular and clinical changes in the skin of 21 healthy volunteers with actinic keratoses and sun-damaged skin.

Participants applied 5 percent fluorouracil cream to the face twice daily for two weeks; skin biopsies and clinical evaluations were performed at the beginning of the study and periodically throughout treatment.

The number of actinic keratoses was significantly reduced following treatment, from an average of 11.6 lesions to an average of 1.5.

Clinical evaluations also identified overall improvements in aging-related damage, including decreases in fine (small) and course (large) wrinkling, lentigines (dark skin spots), hyperpigmentation (skin that has become darker) and sallowness (a yellow skin tone).

The treatment was generally well tolerated. Most patients rated their skin as improved (19, or 95 percent) and were willing to undergo the therapy again (17, or 89 percent).

"Topical fluorouracil causes epidermal [outer skin layer] injury, which stimulates wound healing and dermal remodeling resulting in improved appearance," the authors write. "The mechanism of topical fluorouracil in photo-aged skin follows a predictable wound healing pattern of events reminiscent of that seen with laser treatment of photo-aging."

Topical fluorouracil for cosmetic purposes would be low cost therapy compared with ablative laser resurfacing.


(Editor compiled and published Topical fluorouracil improves actinic keratoses and photoaging at HealthNewsTrack on June 15, 2009 sourced from Archives of Dermatology - http://archderm.ama-assn.org/)

Skin care - recent articles and current news stories:

- Eating grapes and drinking red wine protect your skin
- Indoor tanning may be an addictive behavior
- Fashionable toilet seats, harsh chemicals may lead to dermatitis
- New golden ratios for female facial beauty
- Germs on skin are good for us

Skin care article/news source:

Read more health articles from Archives of Dermatology and health articles from USA.

Skin care - search related terms:

Actinic keratoses, Cosmetic, Dark skin spot, Fluorouracil, Hyperpigmentation, Laser resurfacing, Photoaging, Sallowness,
Skin care books,

Searched keywords: actinic keratoses (40), actinic keratosis (29), Fluorouracil (9), topical fluorouracil (6),

Subscribe to Health News by Email

List health news, Health organizations, Health news world, Glossary, Best health articles, Featured     Go to top

The information provided on Health Newstrack is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician. We comply with the HONcode principles for trustworthy health information, and Health News Track is hon code accredited, verify here.
About us, Site map Privacy policy, Disclaimer
© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 HealthNewsTrack.com
1.12