Anti-inflammatory effect of pimecrolimus in the sodium lauryl sulphate test.

BACKGROUND

Pimecrolimus is a calcineurin inhibitor used for the topical treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. We have shown previously that pimecrolimus cream is not effective on intact skin in the ultraviolet erythema test.

OBJECTIVE

To test the anti-inflammatory effect of pimecrolimus cream after damage of the skin barrier by sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) in a randomised, placebo-controlled, observer-blinded study.

METHODS

SLS (3% v/v) was applied under occlusion on the back of 36 healthy volunteers for 24 h. Subsequently, the test areas were treated for 24 h with pimecrolimus cream, 1% hydrocortisone in a hydrophilic ointment, and the vehicle alone over three consecutive days. One control area remained untreated. The erythema index and the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) served as readout parameters to assess the SLS-induced skin irritation.

RESULTS

Pimecrolimus cream and 1% hydrocortisone cream significantly reduced the SLS-induced erythema. The two test preparations did not have a significant effect on the TEWL.

CONCLUSION

After damage to the skin barrier by SLS, pimecrolimus seems to penetrate into the skin as shown by a reduction of the irritation-induced erythma. These data further support the notion that pimecrolimus is selectively effective in the treatment of skin disorders with an impaired function of the epidermal barrier.