Medication Used To Stop Organ Rejection Found To Successfully Treat The Most Common, Chronic Skin Disease In Children

Although ointments with high concentrations of corticosteroids may get similar results, they can have unacceptable side effects. “There would be concern about the effects to the skin and body, especially with more potent preparations,” he said.

“Unlike corticosteroids, tacrolimus doesn’t cause thinning of the skin, which can be permanent,” Dr. Boguniewicz said. “Some people have tissue paper thin skin and bruise easily from chronic corticosteroid use. The face is a special concern because it’s most susceptible to steroid side effects.”

Tacrolimus, a drug that can suppress the immune system when given intravenously, was used as a topical skin treatment in this clinical trial involving 180 children, ages 7-16 at 18 centers throughout the United States. The children had moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, which affected 5-30 percent of the body’s skin.

Children were supplied with one of three different concentrations of tacrolimus ointment. Improvement or clearing of the condition ranged from 67-70 percent of the children using the tacrolimus ointment, compared to 38 percent that had ointment with no medication.

In topical form the medication appears safe, according to the study, except for a minor burning sensation of the skin that disappears after about four days.

“What we see is that the medication works so quickly and heals the skin that it isn’t further absorbed,” Dr. Boguniewicz said. “That’s why there aren’t systemic side effects.”

The most common chronic skin disease of young