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Real members of MySebDermTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Has anyone had a bad reaction to Tacrolimus ointment? I had almost instant itching, burning, redness

A MySebDermTeam Member asked a question 💭
Midland, TX
June 17
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A MySebDermTeam Member

I had the flushing side effect while using Tacrolimus for eczema on my face. The flushing was two dark pink vertical stripes on either side of my nose a couple of times and once horizontally across my forehead. These were both areas of my face where I had not even applied the ointment. The areas felt warm with an uncomfortable burning sensation. I figured I was allergic to something in the ointment and stopped using it as soon as I could.

June 23
A MySebDermTeam Member

Hi DanaHamry! I've begun using a soft toothbrush to aid in removing lossening flakes arouond my ears and face--especially around the nostrils. My routine is exfoliate (hands and water only), debride (tooth brush) and moisturize. For the redness I put a few drops of my allergy red eyedrops (OTC) on a gauze pad and like magic the redness goes away! I figured if it can get red out of the eyes it should be helpful to calm the redness on my face. So far, so good.

Keep sharing and keep reading. We're in the best place on the Globe for dealing with this immune system tirade. I also find that when I'm stressed my breakouts seem to magically appear so focusing on my volunteer work, helping others helps me stay calm.

Thanks for sharing. You're winning! 😍

June 24
MySebDermTeam

That sounds really uncomfortable — and you're definitely not alone in experiencing this! Itching, burning, and skin irritation are actually known side effects of tacrolimus (Protopic) when first starting it.

For many people, these sensations can kick in pretty quickly after applying it and may last around 20 minutes. The Show Full Answer

That sounds really uncomfortable — and you're definitely not alone in experiencing this! Itching, burning, and skin irritation are actually known side effects of tacrolimus (Protopic) when first starting it.

For many people, these sensations can kick in pretty quickly after applying it and may last around 20 minutes. The good news is that these symptoms often settle down after about a week of use. A MySebDermTeam member shared a helpful tip — refrigerating calcineurin inhibitors like tacrolimus for 15 to 20 minutes before applying (but no longer) may help reduce that initial burning sensation.

Other possible side effects to be aware of include:

- Skin flushing
- Sun sensitivity
- Rosacea-type rash
- Clogged pores or folliculitis
- Viral or fungal skin infections

It's worth reaching out to your dermatologist if the reaction feels severe or doesn't improve after a week or so. They can help determine whether to continue, adjust usage, or explore alternative treatments.

June 17

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