Near-infrared light combined with tacrolimus ointment for the treatment of facial glucocorticoid-dependent dermatitis: a randomized controlled trial / 中华皮肤科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of near-infrared light combined with tacrolimus 0.1％ ointment in the treatment of facial glucocorticoid-dependent dermatitis.Methods A total of 68 patients with facial glucocorticoid-dependent dermatitis were enrolled from Department of Dermatology of Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital between December 2014 and December 2015,and randomly and equally divided into treatment group and combination group by a random number table.The treatment group was treated topically with tacrolimus ointment twice a day for 4 weeks.Besides the treatment with tacrolimus ointment,the combination group was irradiated with near-infrared light once a week for 4 sessions.After 4-week treatment,improvement in clinical manifestations such as itching and burning sensation was evaluated,so was the therapeutic effect.Results The combination group showed significantly higher response rate (85.3％ [29/34]) compared with the treatment group (61.8％ [21/34],x2 =4.84,P ＜ 0.05).Additionally,response rates for itching and burning sensation,erythema,scales and papules were all significantly higher in the combination group than in the treatment group (x2 =4.84,6.35,8.42 and 5.52,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Near-infrared light combined with tacrolimus ointment is effective and safe for the treatment of facial glucocorticoid-dependent dermatitis.