title: Experience with repetitive use of pimecrolimus: exploring the effective and safe use in the treatment of relapsing seborrheic dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) tends to reoccur frequently, so the therapeutic agent must have a high benefit versus adverse effect ratio for long-term and repetitive uses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and safety of retreatment with pimecrolimus in SD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 45 patients who had been treated previously with pimecrolimus 1% cream were retreated with the same agent using the same treatment protocol after the disease reoccurred. The first and the second treatments were compared with regard to disease severity before treatment, complete cure times, remission times and side effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median severities of the disease were 5 and 4 before the first and second treatments, respectively. Retreatment of the disease with pimecrolimus resulted in shorter cure and longer remission times. Side effects were seen only on the first day of the retreatment and an increase in erythema was seen in fewer patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retreatment of the recurrence of SD with pimecrolimus as monotherapy is an effective and safe approach in the management of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ministry of Health Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. semihtatlican@gmail.com
authors.forename: Semih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tatlican
authors.forename: Cemile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.forename: Bilgen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oktay
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eskioglu
authors.forename: Pelin Kartal
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Durmazlar
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D012628:Dermatitis, Seborrheic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D009824:Ointments; C117268:pimecrolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus