Quantitative evaluation of eyelid elasticity using the cutometer SEM575 and its clinical application in assessing the efficacy of tacrolimus ointment treatment in eyelid atopic dermatitis

Purpose: To study the clinical efficacy of a noninvasive suction device that measures eyelid skin elasticity in the treatment of eyelid atopic dermatitis using tacrolimus (FK-506) ointment. Methods: Ten patients with eyelid atopic dermatitis treated with tacrolimus ointment and 10 normal volunteers participated in this study. The cutometer SEM575 was used to quantitatively evaluate eyelid skin elasticity. Severity of the eyelid atopic dermatitis was scored, and comparisons were made before and after treatment. Results: Skin elasticity of patients with eyelid atopic dermatitis was significantly lower than that of normal volunteers (31.3 ± 5.2% vs 40.2 ± 7.8%, respectively). Skin elasticity of patients with eyelid atopic dermatitis improved significantly to 37.5 ± 6.3% after treatment with tacrolimus ointment. The total severity score for eyelid atopic dermatitis also improved from 2.77 ± 1.11 to 1.77 ± 1.15. Conclusion: Measurement of skin elasticity using the cutometer SEM575 is a useful and reliable method for objective and quantitative evaluation of eyelid skin condition in patients with eyelid atopic dermatitis. The efficacy of short-term tacrolimus ointment treatment in patients with eyelid atopic dermatitis was confirmed quantitatively using this apparatus.