ABSTRACT
Topical calcineurin inhibitors are a treatment option for individuals with certain limited manifestations of psoriasis. The topical calcineurin inhibitors tacrolimus ointment and pimecrolimus cream are approved for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in the United States. The calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporine was initially isolated from Tolypocladium inflatum gans, a soil fungus. Although its systemic formulation is frequently accompanied by side effects of nephrotoxicity and hypertension, it has proved to be an effective treatment for psoriasis. Topical calcineurin inhibitors are quite effective in the thin skin of the face and intertriginous areas of the body, the hyperkeratotic lesions found in patients with plaque psoriasis have been less responsive to treatment. Various formulations and methods of application of topical calcineurin inhibitors are currently in trials and development. For mild to moderate psoriasis, topical calcineurin inhibitors offer a valuable off-label treatment option, particularly for the face and intertriginou.
