Month of BID pimecrolimus best in facial seborrheic dermatitis

(HealthDay)—Pimecrolimus 1 percent cream applied twice a day for four weeks seems to be the best regimen for patients with facial seborrheic dermatitis, according to a study published online June 7 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

Juemin Zhao, M.D., from Fudan University in Shanghai, and colleagues examined the comparative efficacy of pimecrolimus 1 percent cream with different treatment regimens in 30 patients with facial seborrheic dermatitis. The regimens included treatment with topical pimecrolimus cream twice daily for two weeks then a moisturizer cream twice daily for two weeks (Group 1), pimecrolimus cream 1 percent twice daily for two weeks then once daily for two weeks (Group 2), and a consecutive course of pimecrolimus cream twice daily for four weeks (Group 3).

The researchers observed significant decreases in the clinical severity scores of all three regimens at week four (P < 0.01). Compared with groups 1 and 2, group 3 had a more remarkable improvement in total severity score (P < 0.05); in group 3 this effect was maintained to the end of the study. All three groups had significantly improved life quality at week four (P < 0.001), while no significant difference was seen between the groups in improvement of life quality.

"We recommend pimecrolimus 1 percent cream could be applied twice a day
for 4 weeks to treat seborrheic dermatitis," the authors write.