Clinial efficacy of facial corticosteroid dependent dermatitis with topical tacrolimus ointment

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of topical tacrolimus ointment 0.1% for the treatment of patients with facial steroid corticosteroid dependent dermatitis. Methods: Twenty-eight patients were treated with topical tacrolimus ointment 0.1% once a day, and the clinical symptom and sign scores were recorded before and after treatment. Meanwhile the adverse events were observed. Results: Twenty-six of 28 cases completed the whole course of treatment.Marked effective rates were 19.2%, 50% and 65.4% on the 7th day, 14th day, 28th day after treatment respectively,while the rates of persistent improvement, unchanged and rebound (with an increase of scores 30%) were 27%,23%,46% respectively 14 days after withdraw of tacrolimus ointment 0.1%. Among a variety of skin lesions, the therapeutic effect was better for erythema and scaly lesions than that for telangiectasia,inflammatory papules, and atrophic lesions.Of the 26 patients, 5 cases (19.2%) were reported to have local burning and itching after the first weeks treatment. Conclusions: tacrolimus ointment 0.1% may be a safe and effective treatment option for the patients with facial corticosteroid dependent dermatitis, but it is necessary to further investigate the optimal treatment course and the therapeutic effect to various skin lesions.