Comparison of Efficacy of Topical Clobetasol Propionate 0.05% and Topical Tacrolimus 0.1% in the Treatment of Lichen Planus

Background: Lichen planus (LP) is a papulosquamous cutaneous disorder that manifests as intensely itchy violaceous flat-topped polygonal papules and plaques. To compare the efficacy of topical clobetasol propionate 0.05% versus topical tacrolimus 0.1% in the treatment of LP. Methods: This prospective Comparative Study was conducted at the Dermatology Department, Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS)/Services Hospital, Lahore, from May 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board at the Department of Dermatology, SIMS/Services Hospital, Lahore. A total of 80 patients were selected after fulfilling the selection criteria. The study participants were placed into two groups, A and B. In group A, the patients were advised to use the topical application of clobetasol propionate (0.05%) ointment twice daily. In group B, tacrolimus ointment (0.1%) was used twice daily. Treatment response was assessed at 3 weeks, and then finally efficacy was evaluated at 6 weeks. Results: Treatment efficacy was observed in 34 patients (42.5%). Group A (Clobetasol) demonstrated a significantly higher efficacy of 55% compared to 30% in Group B (Tacrolimus; p = 0.024). Conclusions: The 0.05% clobetasol propionate topical formulation demonstrated superior efficacy in treating LP compared to 0.1% topical tacrolimus. Further validation of these findings through large-scale clinical trials is warranted.