Pulsed dye laser alongside sirolimus and imiquimod cream may effectively treat port-wine stains

The review pinpointed challenges, including therapy concentration variations, differing durations, and inconsistent outcome measures. Despite these hurdles, the promising clinical potential of adjuvant topical therapies warrants further exploration. Larger prospective studies hold the key to unravelling the true effectiveness of these innovative strategies.

While current evidence leaves the effectiveness of adjuvant topical therapies in conjunction with PDL inconclusive, their exploration represents a leap forward in PWS treatment. As researchers dive deeper into these novel approaches, future investigations promise to refine and redefine the path to effective PWS management.

"There is no clarity on the efficacy of adjuvant topical therapy," the researchers wrote. Limitations included differences in follow-up time, variation in concentration and duration of adjuvant therapies, and inconsistent outcome measure reporting. 

"Given their potential clinical promise, larger prospective studies investigating topical adjuvant therapies should be considered," they concluded. 

Reference:

Chou, M., Karim, M., Josephs, J., Itzkowitz, T., Dreker, M. R., & Labadie, J. G. (2023). Pulsed dye laser and adjuvant topical therapies for the treatment of port‐wine stains: A systematic review. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.23706