Protopic and Elidel are NOT steroids.  Around 2002,  Protopic and Elidel (AKA tacrolimus and pimecrolimus)  became FDA approved for the treatment of eczema in children older than two years of age and adults. These agents have a long history of safety. These creams can be safely used anywhere on the body, including thin skin areas such as the groin, armpits and eyelids. Elidel and Protopic reduces inflammation, redness and itching in eczema.  Elidel and Protopic 0.03% are equivalent in strength to a low potency topical steroids, whereas Protopic 0.1% is equivalent to a mid-potency topical steroid. Since Elidel and Protopic are not steroids, they do not produce local side effects that topical steroids do such as thinning of the skin, stretch marks, bruising etc. However, they have been associated with a stinging and burning sensation upon application which typically improves after using the medication for a week. Sometimes, topical steroids are used for several days first before the application of Elidel or Protopic in order to reduce burning and stinging sensations. Elidel and Protopic are FDA approved for intermittent use, three times a week long-term, and are often used in conjunction with topical steroids. In 2006, the FDA issued a black box warning regarding Elidel and Protopic with increased risk of lymphoma and skin cancer. These risks were mainly based upon patients ingesting these medications by mouth for transplantation and in animal studies where 30 times the human dose was used. Many human scientific studies since then have confirmed the safety of these topical therapies. Data over the past 10 years has not shown any increased risk of lymphoma or skin cancer with topical use of Elidel and Protopic. Finally, the American Academy of Dermatology has found no evidence to support the issuance of this black box warning.