Pimecrolimus cream (1%) efficacy in perioral dermatitis - results of a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study in 40 patients.
BACKGROUND
Perioral dermatitis (POD) is a common skin disease and difficult to treat. Pimecrolimus cream (1%) successfully controls atopic eczema.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to investigate its efficacy in POD.


METHODS
Single-centre, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study including 40 POD patients with a 4-week treatment and a 4-week follow-up. Efficacy was assessed by a novel Perioral Dermatitis Severity Index (PODSI) and Finlay's Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).


METHODS
Outpatient clinics of a large dermatological hospital in Munich, Germany.


RESULTS
During treatment, the PODSI was significantly lower in the pimecrolimus group compared with vehicle (P = 0.005-0.02) whereas at follow-up, no significant differences were observed. At week 2, the responder rates (> or = 50% PODSI improvement) were 50% with pimecrolimus cream (1%) and 25% with vehicle (P = 0.095). DLQI was improved in pimecrolimus group compared with vehicle.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that pimecrolimus cream (1%) effectively treats acute-stage POD.
Oppel
T
T
Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
Pavicic
T
T
Kamann
S
S
Bräutigam
M
M
Wollenberg
A
A
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019557:Dermatitis, Perioral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; C117268:pimecrolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus