What are the side effects of Vtama (generic name) topical cream?

Side Effects of Vtama (Tapinarof) Topical Cream

Vtama (tapinarof) cream 1% is generally well tolerated with mild to moderate application site reactions being the most common side effects.

Common Side Effects

• Folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles) is one of the most common side effects associated with Vtama cream application 1, 2
• Contact dermatitis (skin inflammation at application site) can occur and is typically mild to moderate in severity 1, 2
• Headache has been reported in clinical trials of tapinarof cream 1
• Mild skin irritation may occur, particularly under exaggerated test conditions, but tapinarof has shown only slight potential for very mild cumulative irritation 3

Application Site Reactions

• Erythema (redness), scaling, and dry skin are common application site reactions seen with topical medications, similar to what is observed with other topical agents 4
• Application site reactions are generally localized to the treatment area and most are mild to moderate in severity 2
• The incidence of folliculitis and contact dermatitis is associated with low discontinuation rates in clinical trials 2

Safety Profile

• Tapinarof cream 1% has been shown to be non-sensitizing in dermal safety trials 3
• The medication is non-phototoxic and non-photoallergic, which is important for a topical agent that may be used on sun-exposed areas 3
• Unlike some other topical medications such as retinoids, tapinarof does not appear to cause significant photosensitivity 3

Precautions

• As with most topical medications, patients should be advised to avoid application to broken or irritated skin 4
• Patients should be instructed to discontinue use and contact their healthcare provider if they experience severe irritation or allergic reaction 4
• Unlike some other topical agents (such as 5-fluorouracil or imiquimod), tapinarof has not been associated with severe systemic side effects such as neutropenia or severe muscle weakness 5, 6

Comparison to Other Topical Agents

• Tapinarof has a more favorable side effect profile compared to topical corticosteroids, which can cause skin atrophy, telangiectasia, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression with prolonged use 4
• Unlike topical retinoids such as tazarotene, tapinarof does not appear to cause significant photosensitivity or require specific sun protection measures 4
• Tapinarof does not have the same irritation potential as topical retinoids, which often cause burning, stinging, and peeling 4

Patient Education

• Patients should be advised that mild application site reactions are common and typically resolve with continued use 2
• If irritation becomes severe or does not improve, patients should consult their healthcare provider 4
• Unlike some other topical medications, there are no specific restrictions regarding sun exposure while using tapinarof 3

Vtama cream represents a novel non-steroidal topical option with a generally favorable safety profile characterized primarily by mild to moderate application site reactions that rarely lead to treatment discontinuation.