Off-Label Therapeutic Potential of Crisaborole

Abstract

Crisaborole, a topical phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, was recently approved in 2016 for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in adults and children greater than 2 years of age. Since that time, several case reports and a small randomized controlled trial have been published regarding the off-label use of crisaborole for the treatment of other inflammatory dermatologic disorders. This paper reviews the current, albeit limited, evidence for off-label use of crisaborole for psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, vitiligo, and inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus. Additional potential therapeutic uses for crisaborole are also postulated, based on its mechanism of action. Future studies are required to elucidate the full therapeutic potential of crisaborole; however, it is a welcome addition to the current nonsteroid topical treatments for inflammatory dermatologic disease.

Keywords: PDE4; crisaborole; dermatitis; inflammatory dermatoses; psoriasis; therapeutics.