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Cream helpful against "strawberry" birthmarks
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A cream containing the drug imiquimod, which is commonly used to treat warts, may help accelerate the resolution of superficial hemangiomas in infants, Canadian researchers report.
These "strawberry" birthmarks are benign skin lesions consisting of dense, usually elevated masses of dilated blood vessels.
Dr. Nhung T. C. Ho told Reuters Health, "a simple topical medication, safe and given early enough to reverse the inevitable course of active growth, could influence our approach to uncomplicated infantile hemangiomas."
Dr. Ho and colleagues at the University of Toronto reviewed the outcomes of 16 girls and 2 boys, median age 18 weeks, with a total of 22 hemangiomas, most of which were on the head.
The novel immune response modifier imiquimod was initially used three times weekly in all patients but was increased to five times weekly in eight patients. The cream was applied for periods ranging from 7 to 46 weeks.
All 12 superficial hemangiomas showed improvement and complete clearance was achieved in 4. There was little improvement in the 3 mixed and 3 deep hemangiomas.
There were no apparent internal side effects, and irritation and crusting were the most common skin-related side effects.
Despite these encouraging results, Dr. Ho commented, further studies are needed to "ascertain the safety and efficacy of topical imiquimod in the pediatric population."
SOURCE: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, January 2007.
Reuters Health