Mr O, a 32-year-old man with atopic eczema is using Tacrolimus ointment on affected areas. Which counselling point is most important to provide?

• A. Avoid direct sunlight or sunlamps on the treated areas due to increased skin sensitivity
• B. Apply sunscreen to all skin areas regardless of treatment area
• C. Increase sun exposure to harden the skin during treatment
• D. No special sun-related precautions are needed during treatment

Answer: (A)

Topical tacrolimus can make treated skin more sensitive to sunlight, so protecting those areas from UV exposure is the most important counseling point. Ultraviolet light can cause increased redness, burning, or irritation on skin where the ointment has been applied, so avoid direct sun and sunlamps on those areas. If you’ll be outdoors, cover the treated skin and use broad‑spectrum sun protection for other exposed skin as part of general skincare, but the key message is to shield the treated areas from sunlight. Options that suggest increasing sun exposure or having no sun precautions don’t address the specific heightened sensitivity of treated skin.