Comparative evaluation of the efficacy and safety of crisaborole ointment (2%) versus tacrolimus ointment (0.1%) for the topical treatment of atopic dermatitis: an open-labeled single-blinded randomized controlled trial

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition marked by pruritic eczematous lesions that can significantly affect quality of life. Most cases are mild to moderate, for which guidelines recommend topical therapies like calcineurin inhibitors, corticosteroids, and emollients. Topical phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitors have recently emerged as a nonsteroidal treatment option. However, data comparing crisaborole with established treatments, particularly the widely used tacrolimus, are limited.1,2 To address this, we conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the efficacy and safety of crisaborole and tacrolimus in mild to moderate AD. © 2024 the International Society of Dermatology.