Off-Label Uses of Topical Vitamin D in Dermatology: A Systematic Review

The systematic review from 2014 analyzed off-label uses of topical vitamin D in dermatologic diseases other than psoriasis. A total of 165 articles were included in the study. The review provided moderate to strong recommendations for using topical vitamin D in combination with corticosteroids and phototherapy for vitiligo, and as a monotherapy for ichthyoses, morphea, pityriasis alba, prurigo nodularis, and polymorphous light eruption. However, it found that topical vitamin D was ineffective for actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, lichen planus, seborrheic dermatitis, alopecia areata, chemotherapy-induced alopecia, and hypertrophic scars. The study concluded that while topical vitamin D analogues play a significant role in the off-label treatment of various skin conditions, there is a need for higher quality studies to support these uses.