Intralesional Corticosteroids with 5-FU

Compare To Other Treatments

What Is It?

Intralesional corticosteroids combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a treatment where these medications are injected directly into raised scars. Corticosteroids help reduce inflammation and scar size, while 5-FU inhibits excess fibrous tissue growth. This combination therapy requires multiple treatment sessions, and should be administered by a qualified healthcare professional.

Results

Results
Strength of Evidence: Moderate
83% of patients achieved a good (>50%) or excellent (>75%) improvement in scarring
Expand for result statistics
Good or Excellent Response
83% of patients achieved a good (>50%) or excellent (>75%) improvement in scarring
Scar Height Reduction
Average 62% reduction in scarring
Scar Volume Reduction
Average 44% reduction in scarring
Mean improvement in VSS total score
Average 74% reduction in scarring
Mean improvement in VSS pigmentation score
Average 82% reduction in scarring
Mean improvement in VSS height score
Average 72% reduction in scarring
Mean improvement in VSS pliability score
Average 87% reduction in scarring
Mean improvement in VSS vascularity score
Average 83% reduction in scarring
▸ Based on These Clinical Studies & Trials
▾ Based on These Clinical Studies & Trials
  1. Wu, B., Zhang, B., Xiao, H. & Xu, X. Combining steroid plus 5-fluorouracil injection with radiotherapy versus injection alone for keloids: A 4-year retrospective study. Aesth Plast Surg https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-025-04927-4 (2025) doi:10.1007/s00266-025-04927-4.
  2. Saleem, S. et al. Comparing the effect of intralesional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) alone versus intralesional 5-FU combined with triamcinolone acetonide for keloid treatment. Cureus https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.84635 (2025) doi:10.7759/cureus.84635.
  3. Bhatti, S. et al. Comparison of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide alone and with 5-fluorouracil for the treatment of keloids. J Pak Med Assoc 75, 1082–1085 (2025).
  4. Acharya, R., Agrawal, S., Khadka, D. K. & Pant, A. R. Efficacy and Safety of Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide Alone and its Combination with 5- Fluorouracil in Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars: Randomized, Parallel Group, and Double Blinded Trial. Skin Health and Disease 4, ski2.450 (2024).
  5. Sutedja, E. K., Sundani, A., Ruchiatan, K. & Sutedja, E. Spring-powered needle-free injection of triamcinolone acetonide and 5-fluorouracil for keloid treatment. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 16, 1659–1665 (2023).
  6. Li, Y., Zhang, D., Hang, B. & Wang, H. The efficacy of combination therapy involving excision followed by intralesional 5-fluorouracil and betamethasone, and radiotherapy in the treatment of keloids: A randomized controlled trial. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 15, 2845–2854 (2022).
  7. Sharma, S., Vinay, K. & Bassi, R. Treatment of small keloids using intralesional 5-fluorouracil and triamcinolone acetonide versus intralesional bleomycin and triamcinolone acetonide. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 14, 17–21 (2021).
  8. Deng, K. et al. Strontium-90 brachytherapy following intralesional triamcinolone and 5-fluorouracil injections for keloid treatment: A randomized controlled trial. PLoS One 16, e0248799 (2021).
  9. Reinholz, M., Guertler, A., Schwaiger, H., Poetschke, J. & Gauglitz, G. G. Treatment of keloids using 5-fluorouracil in combination with crystalline triamcinolone acetonide suspension: evaluating therapeutic effects by using non-invasive objective measures. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 34, 2436–2444 (2020).
  10. Reddy, C. V. P. K. & A, S. A comparative study on treatment of keloid with triamcinolone versus 5-fluorouracil and triamcinolone. International Surgery Journal 7, 1373–1377 (2020).
  11. Manzoor, H., Tahir, K., Nasir, A., Mufti, S. & Shehzad, A. Comparison of efficacy of intralesional 5-fluorouracil alone, intralesional triamcinolone acetonide alone and intralesional triamcinolone acetonide with 5-fluorouracil in management of keloids. Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatologists 30, 282–285 (2020).
  12. Levenberg, A., Vinshtok, Y. & Artzi, O. Potentials for implementing pressure-controlled jet injection in management of keloids with intralesional 5FU and corticosteroids. J Cosmet Dermatol 19, 1966–1972 (2020).
  13. Artzi, O. et al. A new approach in the treatment of pediatric hypertrophic burn scars: Tixel-associated topical triamcinolone acetonide and 5-fluorouracil delivery. J Cosmet Dermatol 19, 131–134 (2020).
  14. Khalid, F. A. et al. Comparison of efficacy and safety of intralesional triamcinolone and combination of triamcinolone with 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars: randomised control trial. Burns 45, 69–75 (2019).
  15. Srivastava, S., Patil, A., Prakash, C. & Kumari, H. intralesional triamcinolone acetonide, 5-fluorouracil, and their combination in treatment of keloids. World J Plast Surg 7, 212–219 (2018).
  16. Salameh, F., Koren, A., Sprecher, E. & Artzi, O. Novel stereoscopic optical system for objectively measuring above-surface scar volume-first-time quantification of responses to various treatment modalities. Dermatol Surg 44, 848–854 (2018).
  17. Saleem, F. et al. Comparison of efficacy of intralesional 5-fluorouracil plus triamcinolone acetonide versus intralesional triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of keloids. J Pak Assoc Dermatol 27, 114–119 (2017).
  18. Sagheer, A., Shehzad, A. & Hussain, I. Comparison of efficacy of intralesional 5-fluorouracil alone versus intralesional triamcinolone acetonide with 5-fluorouracil in small keloids. J Pak Assoc Dermatol 26, 361–365 (2016).
  19. Sudulagunta, S., Kumar, B., Khorram, H., Babu, S. & Sepehrar, M. Comparison of combined intralesional triamcinolone and 5-fluorouracil versus bleomycin in keloids. International Journal of Advances in Health Sciences (IJHS) 285–289 (2015).
  20. Khan, M. A., Bashir, M. M. & Khan, F. A. Intralesional triamcinolone alone and in combination with 5-fluorouracil for the treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars. J Pak Med Assoc 64, 1003–1007 (2014).
  21. Sharma, S., Bassi, R. & Gupta, A. Treatment of small keloids with intralesional 5-fluorouracil alone vs. intralesional triamcinolone acetonide with 5-fluorouracil. J Pak Assoc Dermatol 22, 35–40 (2012).
  22. Darougheh, A., Asilian, A. & Shariati, F. Intralesional triamcinolone alone or in combination with 5-fluorouracil for the treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars. Clin Exp Dermatol 34, 219–223 (2009).
  23. Asilian, A., Darougheh, A. & Shariati, F. New combination of triamcinolone, 5-fluorouracil, and pulsed-dye laser for treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars. Dermatol Surg 32, 907–915 (2006).
  24. Apikian, M. & Goodman, G. Intralesional 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of keloid scars. Australas J Dermatol 45, 140–143 (2004).
  25. Manuskiatti, W. & Fitzpatrick, R. E. Treatment response of keloidal and hypertrophic sternotomy scars: comparison among intralesional corticosteroid, 5-fluorouracil, and 585-nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser treatments. Arch Dermatol 138, 1149–1155 (2002).

Side Effects

Side Effects
Medium-high side effects and adverse reactions

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