Five Questions About Protopic (tacrolimus...( CHICAGO Aug. 3 /- Known medical...)

CHICAGO, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Known medically as atopic dermatitis (AD), eczema is characterized by dry, itchy skin and rashes.(1) Scratching the affected area of skin may result in redness, swelling, scaling, cracking, weeping of clear fluid, and crusting of the skin.(2) Immuno-modulators called topical calcineurin (cal-SEE-nur-in) inhibitors (TCIs) can be effective treatments for patients with mild, moderate or severe eczema(3) who fail to respond adequately to first-line prescription treatments, such as topical corticosteroids, or when those treatments are not advisable. Applied to the affected area of skin, TCIs can reduce the signs and symptoms of eczema.

One of the TCIs currently on the market is called Protopic Ointment. Protopic is a prescription ointment used to treat moderate to severe eczema in adults or children two years of age or older who have a normal immune system. Protopic is for use after other prescription medicines have not worked or when a doctor recommends that other prescription medicines should not be used. Protopic should be used for short periods and, if needed, treatment may be repeated after breaks. Protopic can be a valuable part of an overall treatment strategy for managing moderate to severe AD, which also includes a proper skin care regimen and avoiding substances such as foods, detergents and fabrics that may trigger a flare.

How is Protopic used?

Protopic ointment is a prescription medicine used on the skin to treat moderate to severe eczema for short periods, and, if needed, may be repeated with breaks in between.(4) After first-line treatments, or when those treatments are not advisable, Protopic has been shown to be safe and effective in sensitive and/or difficult to treat areas when used as directed.

Is Protopic suitable for children?

Protopic is a
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