Tacrolimus ointment effective in treatment of allergic contact dermatitis

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, Oct, 2006 by Marissa Heller

A recent study evaluated 0.1% tacrolimus ointment in the treatment of nickel-induced allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). In this study, patients with nickel allergies applied nickel patches to both arms for 4 to 8 hours each day. The 0.1% Tacrolimus ointment was applied to one specific patch site on one arm and vehicle alone was applied to the other specific patch site on the other arm. Upon evaluation at 8 weeks, the ACD on the arm treated with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment was clear or almost clear in 45% of patients, and the ACD on the arm treated with vehicle alone was clear or almost clear in 1% of patients.

This study concludes that 0.1% tacrolimus ointment is more effective as compared to vehicle alone in the treatment of nickel-induced ACD. The results of this study were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Volume 55, Issue 1, July 2006, pages 40-46.