Fractional CO2 Laser vs Dermabrasion With 5-Fluorouracil for Acquired Leukoderma

September 20, 2026 updated by: Walaa Ashraf Sayed, Al-Azhar University

Fractional Co2 Laser vs Dermabrasion 5-Flurouracil Delivery in Acquired Leukoderma: A Comparative Study

This randomized controlled prospective single-blinded comparative clinical study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser therapy versus mechanical dermabrasion, both combined with topical 5-fluorouracil, in the treatment of acquired non-vitiligo leukoderma. The study will evaluate repigmentation, clinical improvement, patient satisfaction, and treatment-related adverse effects.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

'Non-vitiligo leukoderma represents a heterogeneous group of acquired hypopigmentary disorders that may occur following burns, inflammatory dermatoses, trauma, or other cutaneous insults. Treatment can be challenging because of altered skin architecture, scar formation, and impaired melanocyte function or availability.

This randomized controlled prospective single-blinded comparative clinical study will include 16 patients with acquired non-vitiligo leukoderma recruited from the outpatient clinic of Al-Azhar University Hospital (Assiut). Eligible lesions will be treated using either fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser therapy followed by topical 5-fluorouracil or mechanical dermabrasion followed by topical 5-fluorouracil. Random allocation will be performed using a computer-generated random allocation sequence.

Fractional CO2 laser sessions will be performed at 4-6-week intervals, with a total of 3-4 sessions. Mechanical dermabrasion will be performed until pinpoint bleeding appears, followed immediately by topical 5-fluorouracil application, with a total of 3-4 sessions. Similar post-procedure care will be provided.

Treatment outcomes will be assessed using objective and subjective measures, including the Vancouver Scar Scale, Vitiligo Analysis by Computer Assisted Grid (VACAG), assessment of treatment-related adverse effects, physician assessment of clinical improvement using the Mean Improvement Score by Physician (MISP), standardized clinical photography, and patient satisfaction using a 10-point visual analogue scale. Adverse effects such as infection, scarring, Koebner phenomenon, aggravation of depigmentation, pain, burning sensation, erythema, and edema will be documented.

The study will be conducted after approval by the local Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assiut. Written and verbal informed consent will be obtained from participating patients, and privacy of the collected data will be maintained.'

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
16

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Egypt
    • Asyut Governorate
      • Asyut, Asyut Governorate, Egypt, 71511
        • Faculty of medicine, Al-Azhar University Assuit

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients receiving topical treatment will be required to undergo a two-week washout period.
  • No sex predilection.
  • Cooperative patients.
  • Patients with non-vitiligo leukoderma, including post-burn leukoderma, post-inflammatory hypopigmentation, and stable hypopigmented scar.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Vitiligo leukoderma.
  • History of bleeding disorder or current anticoagulant therapy.
  • Pregnancy or lactation.
  • Keloid scarring or hypertrophic scars.
  • Unrealistic expectations.
  • Laser therapy within one month prior to enrollment.
  • Koebnerization.
  • Photosensitivity.
  • Seizure disorders.
  • Active dermatosis or active bacterial, viral, or fungal cutaneous infection within the treatment area.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Fractional CO2 Laser + 5-Fluorouracil

Patients will receive fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser therapy followed by topical 5-fluorouracil. Laser parameters will be adjusted according to the site and size of the lesions. Treatment sessions will be performed at 4-6-week intervals for a total of 3-4 sessions. Post-procedure care will include topical antibiotic ointment and emollients.
Device: Fractional CO2 Laser

Fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser therapy followed by topical 5-fluorouracil application. Laser parameters will be adjusted according to lesion size and site.

Drug: 5-Fluorouracil

Topical 5-fluorouracil applied immediately after fractional CO2 laser or dermabrasion according to the assigned study arm.
Active Comparator: Dermabrasion + 5-Fluorouracil

Patients will undergo mechanical dermabrasion using manual or motor-driven dermabrasion until the appearance of pinpoint bleeding, followed immediately by topical 5-fluorouracil application. A total of 3-4 sessions will be performed. Similar post-procedure care will be provided. �
Drug: 5-Fluorouracil

Topical 5-fluorouracil applied immediately after fractional CO2 laser or dermabrasion according to the assigned study arm.

Procedure: Dermabrasion

Mechanical dermabrasion using manual or motor-driven dermabrasion followed immediately by topical 5-fluorouracil application.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Degree of Repigmentation
Time Frame: At baseline and 6 months after treatment

Repigmentation will be assessed by two blinded dermatologists using the Mean Improvement Score by Physician (MISP), based on a 5-grade scale: grade 1, <25% improvement; grade 2, 25-49%; grade 3, 50-74%; grade 4, >75-99%; and grade 5, 100% complete repigmentation.
At baseline and 6 months after treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Al-Azhar University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 26, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 26, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 26, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 9, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 20, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 20, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • MSC/AZ.AST./DVA021/9/245/4/26

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared with other researchers.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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