Combination Therapy With Imiquimod Cream 5% and Tazarotene Cream 0.1% for the Treatment of Lentigo Maligna

Our current standard-of-care is to use imiquimod daily for 12 weeks followed by a staged-excision with 2mm margins per stage. These margins are justified because the standard-of care for lentigo maligna is continuing to evolve

Tazarotene is a topical retinoid cream that is commonly used to treat psoriasis and acne. It is known to help keratinocyte maturation and thinning of the stratum corneum (top layer of the epidermis). The stratum corneum functions as the primary barrier to the penetration of topical medications. The penetration of topical medications can be enhanced if the stratum corneum is thinned. We believe that the treatment of lentigo maligna with imiquimod, and staged-excision, will be improved by the addition of tazarotene cream.