Topical treatment with propranolol gel as a supplement to the existing treatment of hemangiomas.

BACKGROUND Systemic treatment with propranolol is proven to be effective for patients with hemangiomas with less side-effect. We used a propranolol gel for topical use on hemangiomas. METHODS In this retrospective study, we analyzed 148 patients who had been treated topically with propranolol gel for 12 weeks. We analyzed the data of patients and clinically gave each hemangioma a "hemangioma score" to determine the treatment success. RESULTS In 147 of the 148 patients, strong signs of resolution under treatment included lightening, paling, and less vascularization. The hemangioma score showed a significant decrease during the treatment. Relevant serum levels of propranolol were not found. Adverse effects were rare and not related to propranolol. CONCLUSION Topical treatment with propranolol gel is suitable for specific hemangiomas in addition to cryotherapy and systemic treatment with propranolol.