A Randomized Comparative study of efficacy and safety between %20 and %30 Hydrogen peroxide in the Treatment of Actinic keratosis

Abstract

Background and objectives: Actinic keratosis is a premalignant skin lesion that presents clinically as a sand-like macule or papule on an erythematous base with a superficial scale due to atypical proliferation of keratinocytes and may progress to squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide in treatment of actinic keratosis between two different concentrations (%20 and %30). Methods: This is a randomized open label therapeutic trial of twenty patients with actinic keratosis has been enrolled, it was conducted from April 2022 to August 2022 at Sulaimaniah dermatology teaching center. Patients were divided to two treatment groups. Hydrogen peroxide %20 applied to the actinic lesions of group A, while group B applied 30% Hydrogen peroxide to the lesions. The solution was applied to the lesions in a circular motion for 20 seconds, for four rounds per session Patients were seen after a first session in two weeks. Maximum four sessions spaced out by 15 days are given until clearance. Result: we conducted a randomized open label therapeutic trial. It was conducted from April 2022 to August 2022 at Sulaimaniah dermatology teaching center. Regarding response in Group A out of twenty actinic lesions, marked and moderate improvement was recorded in %40, %30 of the lesions respectively while the remaining lesions %30 of them showed slight improvement and no clinically clearance has been recorded. In comparsison, Group B out of twenty lesions %60 of them clinically cleared and slight improvement was recorded only in %20 of lesions. There were statistically significant differences between (20% & 30% Hydrogen peroxide ) in response (p-value=0.000). Regarding side effects; majority of patients (85%) in both groups had recorded burning sensation, irritation and transient erythema, while no scarring, pigmentation, atrophy has been recorded. There were no statically significant differences between two groups. Conclusion: Hydrogen peroxide can be used as safe, alternative method to other modalities in treatment of actinic keratosis lesions, results would be better if higher concentration %30 used