Tien-Yi TZUNG, Chyi-Bin LIN, Ya-Hui CHEN, Chia-Yi YANG
DOI: 10.1080/00015550510044163

Topical pimecrolimus and narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) are both known to be effective in treating atopic dermatitis. We compared the clinical efficacy of monotherapy with either twice daily topical 1% pimecrolimus cream or twice weekly narrowband UVB, and combination therapy in 26 children and adolescents with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in a half-side manner for 6 weeks. Twenty-four patients completed the study. Monotherapy and combination therapy notably reduced the scores of the Eczema Area and Severity Index (p= 0.002) and the severity of pruritus (p≤ 0.004). There was no significant difference in therapeutic efficacy among the treatment regimens at week 6. In conclusion, because of the lack of short-term additive therapeutic efficacy, concomitant use of pimecrolimus and narrowband UVB is inadvisable in treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents.