Two cases of Zoon's balanitis treated with pimecrolimus 1% cream.

BACKGROUND: Plasma cell balanitis is a disorder of the middle-aged and older uncircumcised male. Several treatments have been proposed to treat this disease, but plasma cell balanitis is often resistant to conventional therapy.

METHODS: We decided to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of pimecrolimus 1% cream in resistant Zoon's balanitis. We report two cases of resistant Zoon's balanitis treated with topical pimecrolimus 1% cream.

RESULTS: One of the two patients had a complete regression of the lesion after 2 months of therapy. The other one had a great improvement of the lesion, but a hyperpigmented patch persisted on the glans.

CONCLUSION: Pimecrolimus 1% cream may be a valuable second-line treatment for patients with steroid related side effects or with steroid and other conventional therapy resistant Zoon's balanitis, as well as for those rejecting circumcision.