OBJECTIVETo investigate the antipruritic mechanisms of pimecrolimus cream for women facial dermatitis.

METHODSTopical pimecrolimus cream 1% was applied in 52 women patients with facial dermatitis. The Investigators Global Assessment (IGA) score, severity of pruritus (SP) scores, and a basic syntax and molecular substrate (molecular psychophysics) of nociception and pruriception established by temperature-sensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) channels were used to evaluate the clinical signs, severity of pruritus, and skin sensory phenomenon.

RESULTSThe IGA scores at day 1 and 4 of treatment and the SP score at day 1, 4, and 11 of treatment were significantly lower than the baseline scores before treatment (P < 0.05). Among these 52 patients, 28 (53.8%) showed positive capsaicin-like response (i.e., burning with consequent rapid amelioration of pruritus) at the application sites, 12 (23.1%) showed camphor-like response (i.e., warming with consequent rapid amelioration of pruritus), and 12 (23.1%) showed negative capsaicin-like response or negative camphor-like response.

CONCLUSIONSTreatment with pimecrolimus cream 1% can rapidly and effectively improve the signs and symptoms of facial dermatitis in adult women patients. Pimecrolimus cream 1% may act on the transient potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor in the skin sensory afferents to induce capsaicin-like response or camphor-like response and then desensitizes TRPV1 and rapidly inhibits or alleviate itching.