Inhibition of Angiofibromas in a Tuberous Sclerosis Patient Using Topical Timolol 0.5% Gel

Angiofibromas are the most recognized cutaneous manifestations of tuberous sclerosis complex. Angiofibromas can be associated with disfigurement, bleeding, pruritus, and erythema and may lead to significant psychosocial consequences for affected patients. Histopathologically, angiofibromas consist of a mixture of vascular and interstitial cells. Traditional treatment options include cryotherapy, electrocoagulation, radiofrequency ablation, dermabrasion, laser treatment, and topical agents such as podophyllotoxin. However, complications such as pain, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, scarring, and the frequent recurrence rate reduce the utility of these treatment options. The introduction of topical rapamycin marked a turning point for treatment of facial angiofibromas; however, the lack of a standardized formulation, limited insurance coverage, and significant financial cost restrict universal access for patients and their caregivers. Both oral and topical β-blockers have proven extremely effective treatments for superficial vascular tumors such as hemangiomas and pyogenic granulomas. Topical β-blockers may potentially be useful for treatment of angiofibromas considering these lesions also contain a vascular component. Here we present an exploratory case report of a patient with tuberous sclerosis complex who had significant clinical improvement of her facial angiofibromas utilizing a "split-face" comparison protocol of topical timolol 0.5% gel after full-field treatment with ablative fractional laser resurfacing and pulsed-dye laser.