Effectiveness of Epidermal Growth Factor-containing Ointment on the Solar Lentigines

A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of Epidermal Growth Factor-containing Ointment on the Treatment of Solar Lentigines as Adjuvant Therapy

Subjects were randomly assigned to groups for treatment with either an EGF-containing ointment (the study group) or the vehicle alone (petrolatum; the control group). The EGF ointment included recombinant human EGF (1 μg/g). Random numbers used for assignment to groups were provided by the randomization function of SAS.

The subjects received one session of laser treatment with a Q-switched (QS) 532-nm Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser of their solar lentigines after enrollment. . The end point of laser treatment for lentigines was immediate whitening. The subjects then applied the EGF ointment or vehicle twice daily (morning and evening) to the lesion for 4 weeks after laser treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of solar lentigines that occurred after adulthood
• age of 20 years or older.

Exclusion Criteria:

• uncontrolled systemic or chronic disease
• hypersensitivity to the ingredients of the ointment
• current use of skin whitening agents
• a history of other laser treatments within the past 6 months
• pregnancy
• lactation.