CASE REPORT
Combined 308-nm Excimer Lamp and Tacrolimus Therapy for Linear Morphea Evaluated by Clinical Assessment and Ultrasound (USG): A Case Report of a 38-Year-Old Woman
Ana Maria A. Gallaza-Adel, Ricky H. Hipolito
ABSTRACT: Morphea is a chronic inflammatory disease characterised by skin sclerosis. The disease has several proposed classifications, one of which is linear morphea, characterised by lesions that may follow Blaschko lines and can involve the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and underlying bones. Various treatments have been explored for linear morphea, including phototherapy, immunomodulators, and topical treatments like tacrolimus and imiquimod. This case report presents a novel treatment approach using 308-nm excimer lamp therapy in combination with tacrolimus 0.1% ointment for a 38-year-old woman diagnosed with linear morphea. The patient had a linear depressed plaque on her forehead that evolved over four years. After 20 weeks of combined treatment, significant improvement was observed, including a reduction in lesion length, improved dermal thickness and complete resolution of pruritus. The treatment was well tolerated with no major adverse effects, suggesting that this combination may represent a promising alternative to traditional therapies for linear morphea.
Keywords: Linear morphea, Excimer lamp therapy, Tacrolimus, Phototherapy
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