Pimecrolimus 1% cream for the treatment of rosacea

Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin disorder; the pathogenesis is unclear. Various treatment options for rosacea are available, but most have limited effectiveness. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of 1% pimecrolimus cream for the treatment of rosacea. Thirty patients with rosacea were enrolled in this 4-week, single-center, open-label study of 1% pimecrolimus cream. Patients were instructed to apply the cream to their faces twice daily and were not permitted to use any other agents. Clinical efficacy was evaluated by a rosacea grading system using photographic documentation and a mexameter. The 26 patients who completed the study experienced significantly reduced rosacea clinical scores from 9.65 ± 1.79 at baseline to 7.27 ± 2.11 at the end of treatment (P < 0.05). The mexameter-measured erythema index decreased significantly from 418.54 ± 89.56 at baseline to 382.23 ± 80.04 at week 4 (P < 0.05). The side-effects were mostly transient local irritations. The results of this study suggest that 1% pimecrolimus cream is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with mild to moderate inflammatory rosacea.