CORONADO, CALIF. Topical red wine, green tea, and caffeine polyphenols may play a role as chemopreventive agents for actinic keratoses and photodamaged skin, results from a small pilot study suggest.
The first part of the study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of the individual polyphenols. The second part of the study was designed to assess the efficacy of combination therapy (green tea polyphenols plus vitamin C or red wine polyphenols plus caffeine), Dr. Karen F. Han said at the annual meeting of the Pacific Dermatologic Association.
Patients were eligible for the study if they had at least three actinic keratoses on each forearm, each dorsal hand, or the face/scalp/neck area, and were otherwise in good health.
In a double-blind, left-to-right placebo-controlled trial, the subjects were randomly assigned to one of the tested gels and a placebo gel. Patients were instructed to apply the gels twice a day for 12 weeks.
Before and after clinical photographs were taken, shave or 2-mm punch biopsies were obtained, and the patients were followed monthly for a total of four visits.
At each monthly follow-up visit, Dr. Han, a dermatologist in group practice in Palo Alto, Calif., mapped and counted actinic keratoses, took clinical photographs, and reviewed each patient's self-assessment form. The main outcome measure was the total number of residual actinic keratoses; the secondary outcome measure was an assessment of signs of photodamage, including dyschromia, wrinkling, texture, and telangiectasia.
In part 1 of the study, Dr. Han saw a statistically significant difference between the treatment sides and placebo sides in 11 of 14 patients. Of those 14 patients, 7 (50%) had reduced numbers of actinic keratoses that favored the treatment side. The reduction ranged from 60% to 100% clearance.
In part 2 of the study, Dr. Han observed a statistically significant difference between the treatment sides and the placebo sides in eight of nine patients who completed this component of the trial. Of those nine patients, seven (78%) had reduced numbers of actinic keratoses that favored the treatment side. The reduction ranged from 50% to 85% clearance.
Shantel Medical Supply Corp. supplied the gels used for the trial, but Dr. Han did not receive any financial support from the company.
Seven of nine patients had significantlyfewer actinic keratoses on the combination therapy side. DR. HAN