Intermittent tacrolimus Ointment therapy Helps Prevent Relapse Of Stabilized Atpoic Dermatitis

Treatment of atopic dermatitis has always been frustrating. Flare-ups, which are all too common, can be treated with topical steroids, but these cannot be used for prolonged periods without significant downside. And lubrication of the skin, the mainstay of maintenance therapy, is not always effective in controlling the flare-ups.

Tacrolimus is used either alone or with topical steroids in acute stages while tacrolimus alone is preferred for maintenance so as to reduce the side effects of steroids. Relapses are a rule rather than exception in atopic dermatitis. Use of moisturizing cleansers, emollients and avoidance of irritants like woolen fibres are very important yet flares do occur. The study proposes a regular thrice weekly...

This article is important in that it confirms a commonly used method in clinical dermatology practice. Namely that of using Protopic for longer term maintenance to prevent flares, and to act as a topical steroid sparing agent. This has been done since the introduction of Protopic, and among dermatologists there are no significant safety concerns over its long term use. Elidel, from Novartis,...