Abstract: Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of CO₂ fractional laser combined with topical hormone creams in the treatment of intractable vitiligo. Methods: Fifty six patients with intractable vitiligo were randomly divided into treatment group (29 patients with 47 lesions) and control group (27 patients with 42 lesions). All the patients were treated with topical fluticasone propionate 0.05% cream and calcipotriol ointment, once a day for 12 weeks and the patients in the treatment group were given additional CO₂ fractional laser, once three weeks for 4 times. The efficacy in the two groups was assessed. Results: Thirty-six lesions improved in the treatment group, giving an effective rate of 76.6% and 18 lesions improved in the control group, giving an effective rate of 42.9%, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: CO₂ fractional laser combined with topical creams in treatment of intractable vitiligo is more effective than topical creams alone.

Key words: fractional CO₂ laser, intractable vitiligo, combination therapy