Successful treatment of warts with a combination of maxacalcitol ointment and salicylic acid sticking plaster

Off-label uses of topical vitamin D in dermatology: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Topical vitamin D is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of psoriasis but is also used off-label in the treatment of a variety of cutaneous diseases despite a lack of evidence-based guidelines.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to provide evidence-based clinical guidelines for the off-label use of topical vitamin D in the treatment of dermatologic disease.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted via the MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases for off-label uses of topical vitamin D analogues in the treatment of dermatologic disease other than psoriasis. The data were synthesized, and evidence-based recommendations were rendered according to the highest level of evidence available.

RESULTS

A total of 165 articles met the inclusion criteria. A moderate to strong recommendation was given for the use of topical vitamin D in combination with corticosteroids and phototherapy in vitiligo and as monotherapy for various ichthyoses, morphea, pityriasis alba, prurigo nodularis, and polymorphous light eruption. There is evidence showing that topical vitamin D is ineffective in the treatment of actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, lichen planus, seborrheic dermatitis, alopecia areata, chemotherapy-induced alopecia, and hypertrophic scars.

CONCLUSION

Topical vitamin D analogues have an important role in the off-label treatment of dermatologic disease, but higher quality studies are still required.

Successful Treatment of Anogenital Wart with a Topical Vitamin D(3) Derivative in an Infant

Anogenital warts are an infectious disorder of the anogenital lesion caused by one or more human papilloma viruses. Verruca is commonly treated with freezing with liquid nitrogen, laser therapy or application of imiquimod. Such ablative treatment may cause pain and scars on the anogenital lesion. We herein report an infant case of anogenital wart which was successfully treated with a topical vitamin D₃ derivative. Topical application of a vitamin D₃ derivative may be an alternative therapy for anogenital warts in infants.