Does anyone here have experience with Protopic ointment for eczema and...

[? terry g ?]

...other skin conditions? It was prescribed for me after my diabetes reacted horribly to Desonide lotion.

[Eggmcmuffin]

I can actually picture the desonide reacting with your diabetes. If you manage to get some absorbed into your skin it actually increases blood sugar levels because it is a corticosteroid. You might have applied it while you have wet skin or into open skin or you rubbed a cream on top of it to increase absorption.

Now protopic (tacrolimus) on the other hand is not a hormone and acts in a cellular level. It blocks helper T1 cells preventing inflammation (ie itch and redness) from occuring. There are rumours that it can cause cancer and no research proves this but the theory is there. Corticosteroids (desonide) as well as Immunomodulators (ie protopic) surpress the immune system. If it's surpressed too long then damaged cells do not become repaired. If damaged cells are not eliminated through the immune system, they can become cancerous. The risk is there but it's low, thats why you should always take a break from using them from time to time to allow your cells to recover.

Now concerning protopic, it's not as good as corticosteroids but its safer. It's also considered as long time treatment and you have to apply it right when it STARTS to itch and not full blown.

If you have any questions feel free to email me