Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor-Containing Ointment for the Management of Laser-Induced Postinflammatory Erythema and Hyperpigmentation / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Background@#Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates wound healing in various skin conditions, and EGFcontaining formulations can promote wound regeneration and help reduce complications after laser treatment. @*Objective@#To evaluate the effect of EGF-containing ointment on wound regeneration after ablative laser treatment and laser-induced postinflammatory erythema (PIE) and hyperpigmentation (PIH). @*Methods@#Twenty-five patients who required treatment with ablative laser on both sides of the face were enrolled and underwent one session of laser treatment. Postoperatively, all patients were instructed to apply the EGFcontaining ointment on the randomly assigned-hemifacial side, while gentamicin cream was applied on the opposite side. Investigators’ global assessment (IGA), evaluating general wound condition, erythema, pigmentation, and scab shedding, and patient’s global assessment (PGA), evaluating patient satisfaction with clinical improvement, were both measured at 1 week and 4 weeks after treatment. Objective assessments, including melanin index (MI), erythema index (EI), skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), were measured before treatment and at 1 week and 4 weeks after treatment. @*Results@#The EGF-containing ointment showed better outcomes with IGA (1 week; p=0.02, 4 weeks; p=0.002) and PGA (1 week; p=0.04, 4 weeks; p=0.01) scores compared to gentamicin cream. Compared to gentamicin cream, treatment with EGF-containing ointment resulted in significantly lower EI (p=0.044) and MI (p=0.023), but skin hydration and TEWL between the two groups exhibited nonsignificant differences. @*Conclusion@#EGF-containing ointment could be an effective adjuvant option for wound regeneration after ablative laser treatment and minimizing laser-induced PIE and PIH in Asian patients.