Topical tacrolimus neither prevents nor abolishes ultraviolet–induced erythema

A dose- and vehicle-controlled study on the pretreatment and posttreatment effect of 0.1% tacrolimus ointment on erythema induced by solar-simulated ultraviolet (UV) radiation was performed. Surprisingly, comparisons of clinical erythema scores and colorimetric data obtained 24 and 72 hours after UV exposure did not reveal significant differences between the control, tacrolimus, and vehicle preirradiation and postirradiation treated sites (P > .05). Our data strongly indicate that topical tacrolimus neither prevents nor abolishes UV–induced erythema in a clinical meaningful degree.