Eucrisa (crisaborole) is a prescription brand-name medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat mild to moderate atopic dermatitis. This skin condition is often referred to as eczema. Eucrisa can be used in adults and children ages 3 months and older.
Here are some fast facts about Eucrisa:
- Active ingredient: crisaborole
- Drug class: phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitor
- Drug form: topical ointment
You apply Eucrisa to the affected areas of your skin twice per day. It’s meant to be a long-term treatment.
Like other drugs, Eucrisa ointment can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Eucrisa, see this article.
Eucrisa can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if your side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The most common side effect reported by people who took Eucrisa in clinical trials is a burning or stinging sensation. For more information, see “Side effect specifics” below.
Mild side effects can occur with Eucrisa use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Eucrisa’s prescribing information.
A mild side effect that has been reported with Eucrisa is a burning or stinging sensation. For more information, see “Side effect specifics” below.
This side effect may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Eucrisa and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.
Eucrisa may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Eucrisa’s prescribing information.
If you develop serious side effects while taking Eucrisa, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
A serious side effect that has been reported with Eucrisa is allergic reaction.† For more information, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after using Eucrisa. But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials.
Eucrisa may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.
Does Eucrisa come in cream form? If so, what are its side effects?
No, Eucrisa is available only as an ointment that you apply to your skin. It isn’t made in a cream form.
The difference between a cream and an ointment is the ratio of water and oil they contain. Creams contain more water and ointments contain more oil. Creams easily absorb into the skin while ointments are designed to protect your skin against moisture loss by staying on top of your skin. Since atopic dermatitis commonly causes dry skin, ointments can be beneficial for this condition.
But other atopic dermatitis treatments are available in cream form. A few examples of steroid-free prescription creams include pimectolimus (Elidel), ruxolitinib (Opzelura), and doxepin (Zonalon). Also, several corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone, are available as creams and may help relieve atopic dermatitis symptoms.
If you’re interested in trying Eucrisa or an atopic dermatitis medication that comes as a cream, talk with your doctor. They can advise you on which treatment options are best for you.
Is cancer a side effect of Eucrisa?
Eucrisa isn’t known to cause cancer. There weren’t any cases of cancer reported in the drug’s clinical trials or since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it in 2016.
However, other atopic dermatitis treatments, such as pimecrolimus cream (Elidel) and tacrolimus ointment (Protopic), have been linked to cancer. These medications have
If you have concerns about Eucrisa or developing cancer, talk with your doctor. They can discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with Eucrisa.
Does Eucrisa cause hair loss?
No, Eucrisa shouldn’t cause hair loss. This side effect did not occur during clinical trials of the drug.
Atopic dermatitis can make your areas of your skin dry and itchy. If atopic dermatitis affects your scalp, it’s possible that excessive scratching can lead to hair loss.
Talk with your doctor for ways to relieve scalp itching or to check for other causes of hair loss.
Learn more about some of the side effects that Eucrisa may cause.
Burning or stinging sensation
Eucrisa may cause pain or discomfort at the areas where the ointment is applied. Symptoms include a temporary stinging or burning sensation.
This was the most common side effect reported in the drug’s clinical trials, and it only affected a small percentage of people. In most cases, the pain, stinging, or burning from using Eucrisa went away within 1 day.
What you can do
Any pain, stinging, or burning that occurs after applying Eucrisa should be temporary.
It’s important to apply Eucrisa ointment only to the areas of your skin affected by atopic dermatitis. You should not apply the ointment to your eyes or mouth. Eucrisa should also not be applied to the vagina.
If these feelings of pain, stinging, or burning become severe, wash Eucrisa off the area right away and talk with your doctor. They may recommend stopping your use of the medication until the discomfort goes away. They may also recommend switching to a different atopic dermatitis treatment.
Allergic reaction
As with most drugs, Eucrisa can cause an allergic reaction in some people.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to Eucrisa can appear at the application sites (areas where the ointment is put on the skin). Or they can occur at other skin areas, distant from applications sites.
Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:
- skin rash
- hives
- severe itchiness
- flushing
- swelling under your skin, typically in your lips, eyelids, feet, or hands
- swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
What you can do
For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Eucrisa. But if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Eucrisa. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:
Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Eucrisa or any of its ingredients, including petrolatum (Vaseline), your doctor will likely not prescribe Eucrisa. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.
Alcohol use with Eucrisa
Eucrisa is a medicated ointment that you’ll apply to your skin. Drinking alcohol doesn’t affect it.
If you have any questions about alcohol use with Eucrisa, talk with your doctor.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Eucrisa
It’s not known if Eucrisa is safe to use during pregnancy. It’s also unknown whether it’s safe to use while breastfeeding.
Eucrisa is an ointment that’s applied to the skin, but a small amount of the drug may be absorbed into your bloodstream. It isn’t known whether the drug may affect a developing fetus or pass into breastmilk.
If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed, talk with your doctor before using Eucrisa. They may suggest that you use other treatments.
Eucrisa is an ointment prescribed to treat mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in adults and some children. It doesn’t cause side effects in most people.
If you’d like to learn more about Eucrisa, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from using this ointment.
Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:
- More information about Eucrisa. For details about other aspects of Eucrisa, refer to this article.
- Dosage details. You can find out about Eucrisa’s dosage with this article.
- A look at atopic dermatitis. For details about atopic dermatitis, see our dermatology and skin care hub, and list of related articles.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.