J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2026 Mar;36(3):406-409. doi: 10.29271/jcpsp.2026.03.406.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of topical 5-Fluorouracil combined with microneedling in treating stable vitiligo.

STUDY DESIGN: A clinical prospective trial. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Dermatology, Azadi Teaching Hospital, Duhok, Iraq, from October 2024 to January 2025.

METHODOLOGY: Twenty-two patients with stable vitiligo were treated with topical 5-Fluorouracil 5% cream combined with microneedling (Dermapen) and evaluated by the McNemar test. The procedure was performed every two weeks for three months. The normality of the continuous variables was examined using a Q-Q plot. JMP® version 18.0 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, 1989-2023) was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: Patients with stable vitiligo had the disease affecting the upper limbs (35.0%), the head and neck (30.0%), lower limbs (25.0%), and trunk (10.0%). According to the study, patients showed a significant improvement in their clinical status from visits two to five compared with the first visit, with a 30-55% improvement. At the final session, the distribution of responses was as follows: excellent (30%), good (10%), moderate (10%), and poor (5%), with no response observed in 45% of patients. A similar pattern was evident in patient satisfaction levels.

CONCLUSION: The use of topical 5-Fluorouracil in combination with microneedling is an effective treatment for stable vitiligo.

KEY WORDS: 5-Fluorouracil cream, Microneedling, Pigmentation, Vitiligo.

PMID:41781839 | DOI:10.29271/jcpsp.2026.03.406