Comparison of Nicotinamide Treatments for Actinic Keratosis

In this study, the investigators aimed to evaluate the effect of oral nicotinamide compared to topical nicotinamide in the presence of actinic keratoses on the face. The reason that led the investigators to study this subject is that previous studies have shown possible favorable effects of nicotinamide, both topical and oral, in the prevention of precursor lesions of skin cancer. However, there are no studies to date comparing topical and oral presentations of nicotinamide in the prevention of the appearance of actinic keratoses and in the regression of the number of actinic keratoses. In this randomized clinical trial, 74 participants with actinic keratoses on the face received either oral nicotinamide and topical placebo or topical nicotinamide and oral placebo for 6 months.

Background: Nicotinamide has been reported to be effective in reducing rates of actinic keratosis, however, to date, there are no studies comparing their topical and oral presentations Objectives: to compare efficacy of oral and topical nicotinamide in preventing and reducing the number of facial actinic keratosis. Secundary objectives: to evaluate the occurrence of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and evaluate the safety and adverse effect profile of topical and oral nicotinamide. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, double-dummy clinical trial, 74 participants with actinic keratosis on the face received either oral nicotinamide and topical placebo or topical nicotinamide and oral placebo for 6 months.