Combining Topical Imiquimod 5% Cream With a Pulsed Dye Laser to Treat Port Wine Stain Birthmarks

Combining Topical Imiquimod 5% Cream With a Pulsed Dye Laser to Treat Port Wine Stain Birthmarks

Port wine stains are red birthmarks that without treatment persist for a lifetime. They are frequently found on the face and can be conspicuous and disfiguring, negatively impacting social interactions for these patients. Treating Port wine stains is difficult. The standard of care is to use laser treatment, but over 80% of patients fail to completely clear despite multiple treatments. The growth of additional blood vessels (angiogenesis) following the Laser treatment is likely an important factor in why these lesions persist despite therapy.

Imiquimod is a topical cream that affects the immune response and has been noted to inhibit blood vessel formation. It has been used to successfully treat other vascular growths such as hemangiomas. The research can use imiquimod cream 5% cream apply to port wine stains after laser therapy to improve lightening of port wine stains. The imiquimod 5% cream cream apply to Port wine stains everyday for 8 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of Port Wine Stain birthmark
• Male and female subjects of any age who are in good health.
• Fitzpatrick skin type I-VI

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant or lactating
• History of cutaneous photosensitivity
• History of hypersensitivity to imiquimod 5% cream or any of its components
• History of photodermatoses