Tacrolimus ointment for vitiligo in children is a topical Immunosuppressive drug (that is applied to the skin). It is used in the treatment of skin diseases like Eczema and Vitiligo. Tacrolimus was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1994 for use in liver transplantation, then it has been extended to include kidney, heart, small bowel, pancreas, lung, trachea, skin, cornea, bone marrow, and limb transplants.
A retrospective assessment of 57 children with Vitiligo has been in print in Journal Watch Dermatology February 15, 2005. In this research, children of 4-16 years in age were taken which had all types of Vitiligo (generalized, 58%; segmental, 37%; and acrofacial, 5%) and 43 of them had experienced steroids and phototherapy in the past with inadequate responses. Tacrolimus was applied on these patients for three months.
AS a result, the response rates were better for head and neck than the trunk and extremities (89% vs. 63%). Similarly eyelids had shown better responses. So, this research helped dermatologists to prove that Tacrolimus Ointment is useful for Vitiligo in Children. The response rate also varied with season. The response rate was 100% in summer and 61% in winter. The spring and autumn were in between with 76% and 81% respectively.