Tacrolimus ointment in the management of atopic dermatitis

Antonello Baldo, Mariana Cafiero, Paola Di Caterino, Luisa Di Costanzo, Antonello Baldo, Mariana Cafiero, Paola Di Caterino, Luisa Di Costanzo

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing, highly pruritic inflammatory skin disease. AD long-term treatment is usually required to control and prevent flares, and patients need a treatment that is safe and efficacious when applied continuously or intermittently over a prolonged period of time. The treatment options should be chosen according to age, clinical features and severity of the disease in every single patient. For the treatment of a chronic disease like AD, sustained tolerability and efficacy of the applied medications are essential. A topical immunomodulator, tacrolimus ointment, provides an alternative to topical corticosteroids without the associated adverse events. Tacrolimus is a macrolide lactone with unique immunomodulatory properties and strong anti-inflammatory activities and can be used without increasing the risk of infection or other non-application site adverse events, and without loss of effectiveness, in patients with AD.

Keywords: atopic dermatitis; safety; tacrolimus.

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