Pimecrolimus for treatment of acne rosacea

Rosacea is a common disease, which is often resistant to treatment. Topical calcineurin inhibitors have been efficacious in the treatment of other inflammatory disorders of the skin, and tacrolimus has been reported as an effective treatment option for erythrotelangiectatic rosacea.

Because of the benefits seen with tacrolimus in previous publications, we investigated the efficacy of a closely related compound, pimecrolimus, in patients with erythrotelangiectatic, papulopustular, and edematous rosacea.

Twelve patients with erthryotelangiectatic or papulopustular rosacea who had failed conventional therapy were treated with topical pimecrolimus cream twice daily for 12-18 weeks. No patients had used any other treatment for rosacea within 30 days of the start of therapy. During the course of the study, no other topical or systemic treatment of rosacea was allowed.

Ten of 12 patients showed substantial improvement of erythema, while five of six patients with a papulopustular component noted at least an 80% decrease in the number of lesions.

It appears pimecrolimus may be efficacious in the treatment of erythrotelangiectatic and papulopustular rosacea and may be considered in patients with recalcitrant disease.