Tacrolimus topical and Redness: What Users Say

• Hap...
• May 18, 2016

Tacrolimus topical for Atopic Dermatitis "A drug may work well for some, and not so well for others. I am happy to report that Protopic is pretty much a miracle drug for me. I had developed a severe case of blepharitis, or contact dermatitis, around my eyes. They were red, itching, flaking, burning, and swollen. I looked and felt like hell. Within 24 hours, I was 75% better. And a few days later, symptoms were pretty much gone. I continued to use it for approximately 3 weeks. Now, when a symptom starts to flare up, I apply it for only a day or so to control it."

• Itc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2017

Tacrolimus topical for Atopic Dermatitis "I developed eczema on my eyelids and originally treated it with a Eucerin cream. While that moisturized the area well, my eyelids were still swollen and constantly itchy. My doctor later prescribed this to treat it and warned me about the burning sensation during the first 24 hours. As many people have mentioned, after the first application, the skin begins to feel like it's burning, and mine became very red, it was miserable. However, after the first day, that goes away, and within a week, I had normal eyes again! I am so happy with this ointment, I honestly thought I would never have normal eyes again."

• Anonymous
• November 28, 2016

Tacrolimus topical for Atopic Dermatitis "Used this for my eczema around my mouth, instant regret as soon as I applied it. Washed it off immediately, but it continued to burn for 3 days. It was red in that area for a few days too. In the shower, and every time I breathed out of my nose, the heat seemed to ignite the burning. It was torture!"

• Jod...
• July 26, 2021

For Atopic Dermatitis "Avoid Protopic at all costs. My dermatologist prescribed it, and my G.P. did a repeat prescription for 10 years. It had damaged my skin. Red, burning, couldn't go in the sun, or drink alcohol as the skin goes bright red and burning sensation. I have stopped using it 6 months ago, and the withdrawal has been brutal. Just Google TSW. Although it's not a steroid, it acts like it, and the skin becomes addicted, then becomes less effective. Please avoid, especially on children."

• Jud...
• May 12, 2017

Tacrolimus topical for Perioral Dermatitis "I've been using Protopic (0.1% ointment) for about six years to treat facial seborrheic dermatitis. On the plus side, Protopic ended five miserable years of itching, redness, and burning that no cream seemed to help, and for that reason, I am truly thankful. On the downside, it's very greasy (similar to Vaseline), which means it stays on the skin all day if applied in the morning. Drinking alcohol is a definite no-no too, as a tiny amount causes an awful reaction, making the skin immediately burn bright red. Annoyingly, if I don't use Protopic for about two weeks, when I reapply it, the skin burns and itches intensely for a few hours (REALLY uncomfortable). Using it more often, say twice a week, does however resolve this problem."

• Mol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2020

Tacrolimus topical for Atopic Dermatitis "The first time I used this, I only put it around my nose and down to my lip. It burned so bad immediately. I cleaned it off after an hour as the heat and the burning were bad. Even after this, it burned all night, I had to have a fan blowing on me, but that didn't help much. My whole face (not just the area I put it on) burned for over 24 hours, even after washing multiple times. A month later, I tried it again after my skin had calmed a bit, and this time was much better. I didn't get the same burning, just a slight heat from it. Another side effect I've had is that when the room I'm in gets warmer, my whole face burns and gets very red, this lasts for hours. I've been using this for a month now, but I've seen very little improvement with my skin. It's still sore, tight, and burns and itches."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2020

Tacrolimus topical for Atopic Dermatitis "I started using this cream on my hands a couple of weeks ago, almost immediately, my hands started burning, but I put it down to the dermatitis. After a few days, there was improvement on my hands, so I carried on using it once a day. Last weekend, I drank wine, and my goodness, my face and neck started burning and went really red. I never correlated it to the cream, I just thought I'd developed an allergy to the wine. That evening, my whole body started tingling, it was quite scary. Still didn't think it could have been the cream, so I carried on using it once a day. The tingling carried on all week, it was driving me to despair. Yesterday, I read the patient leaflet, and to my horror, the common side effects are the ones I was suffering from. I do have sensitive skin, so maybe that's why I reacted so badly. I didn't use the cream last night, still tingling skin today, but not as bad. Hopefully, it will be out of my system soon. My advice is don't use this cream if you have sensitive skin."

• Mar...
• February 5, 2017

For Atopic Dermatitis "My doctor prescribed this ointment in conjunction with memetasone cream. I had a severe reaction with red, hot, weepy, itchy, thin-feeling skin that bled with the lightest scratch. Per doctor, I stopped using memetasone and just used tacrolimus, from there, skin dried up and became very scaly, still itchy, thin-feeling, and painful. The ointment also made my skin feel very dry."

• Onc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2017

For Atopic Dermatitis "I think I was suffering from topical steroid withdrawal and tried to get off of them once my skin was dry, red, and flaky. I thought I was out of options until I remembered the Protopic generic, tacrolimus. I asked my doctor about it, and she was able to prescribe it to me. So far, it's cleared up my skin, although I do have red skin on my thighs. I get itchy and keep causing more eczema or sores due to scratching, and I'm unaware of the allergens causing it. It does burn, and I'm odd, I think it feels good sometimes, especially in the winter. I recommend it for eczema sufferers because I've used it in the past, and it's worked, and as an adult now, it's working again for me. Topical steroids have failed me."

• qrk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2017

Tacrolimus topical for Atopic Dermatitis "Applied this to treat what looked like a mix of folliculitis and atopic dermatitis flares (but which turned out to be just atopic dermatitis) on both lower legs, especially the shins. Itchiness, redness, and dryness abated about 80% after one week without any initial irritations or burning sensation. There is no feeling of soreness or increased sensibility whatsoever, I've basically just stopped thinking about those problematic parts of my skin, so there's that passive psychological boost, too. Only 9/10 because long-term results are still unknown and because it's pretty greasy."

• Arc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 4, 2022

Tacrolimus topical for Atopic Dermatitis "Like rubbing lava on my skin, makes me feel like I'm on fire, makes my skin redder and worse. Increases my stress levels, causing me to scratch more. The worst thing I have ever been prescribed for this condition."

• jew...
• March 17, 2018

For Atopic Dermatitis "After using triamcinolone and then betamethasone dipropionate last night, I used Protopic generic 0.1. I thought I would go out of my mind. I have red spots on both arms, the back part of my neck, and my chest. The burning and itching were so severe. I had to take 2 generic Valiums, Allegra 24, and Advil with ice packs to help calm it down. Developed more redness under my left breast, which got redder. I'm afraid to put it on today, Saturday. I also found out I have a nickel cobalt allergy. I'm so depressed. I just lost my 16-year-old Yorkie last week, so I'm stressed more. These doctors prescribe and don't treat you."

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2024

For Perioral Dermatitis "My daughter initially used this twice per day for about a week to get her perioral dermatitis under control. Now, she uses it about once per week (only one time at night per week). However, any sip of alcohol and around her eyes get bright red, her neck, around her lips... everywhere she had perioral dermatitis. YIKES. However, after about 30 minutes, it does go away, but the initial look is 'wow'. Once settled, she can finish her beverage and is just fine. It is just the 'initial' alcohol to her system. But, her perioral is very well controlled with this."

• Kan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 28, 2017

For Perioral Dermatitis "I have perioral dermatitis. The rash has worsened. My face looks horrible. There is itching, burning, and redness."