Comparison of different regimens of pimecrolimus 1% cream in the treatment of facial seborrheic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND

Pimecrolimus 1% cream has already been proved to be an effective and safe alternative to treat seborrheic dermatitis. However, the treatment periods were inconstant in previous studies.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the comparative efficacy of pimecrolimus 1% cream with different regimens for the treatment of facial seborrheic dermatitis.

METHOD

Thirty patients with facial seborrheic dermatitis were enrolled and randomly distributed to three groups. Patients of Group 1 were treated with topical pimecrolimus cream 1% twice daily for 2 weeks and then a moisturizer cream twice daily for 2 weeks. Patients of Group 2 were treated with pimecrolimus cream 1% twice daily for 2 weeks and then once daily for another 2 weeks. Patients of Group 3 had a consecutive course of pimecrolimus cream 1% twice daily for 4 weeks. Objective symptoms, subjective symptoms, and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) were measured at weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6.

RESULTS

At week 4, the clinical severity scores of all three regimens significantly decreased (P<.01). The improvement of total severity score in Group 3 was more remarkable than groups 1 and 2 (both P<.05). This effect was maintained until the end of the study in Group 3. Life quality of all three groups was significantly improved at week 4 (P<.001), while there was no statistical difference on the improvement of life quality among three groups.

CONCLUSION

We recommend pimecrolimus 1% cream could be applied twice a day for 4 weeks to treat seborrheic dermatitis.