Cutaneous effects of topical indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, on UV-damaged skin.

Topical application of a 2.5 per cent indomethacin (IM) solution to the sunburned skin of humans and guinea pigs resulted in a marked decrease in ultraviolet light (UVL) -induced erythema. In humans, a decrease in skin temperatute and hyperalgesia to near normal levels was also observed. Epidermal responses to UVL injury such as keratinocyte cell death and altered DNA synthesis proceeded unmodified by IM. Repeated applications of IM in the 48-hr period following UVL exposure did not improve upon the results obtained following a single treatment. Guinea-pig skin provides a relevant model system for evaluating the effects of topical nosteroidal anti-inflammatory agents on sunburn.