Treatment of notalgia paresthetica with capsaicin

Twenty-four patients with notalgia paresthetica were treated with topical capsaicin (Zostrix) in a concentration of 0.025 percent for four months. In approximately 70 percent of the patients who remained in the study, relief of pruritus was achieved up to the 90 percent level. In the majority of these patients pruritus returned when use of the medication was stopped. The history, causes, and prevalence of the condition are reviewed. This treatment is the first described that is relatively effective.

A double-blind, vehicle-controlled study of clobetasol propionate 0.05% (Temovate) scalp application in the treatment of moderate to severe scalp psoriasis

The efficacy and safety of clobetasol propionate 0.05% scalp application was evaluated in 378 patients with moderate to severe scalp psoriasis in a double-blind vehicle-controlled parallel group study. After 2 weeks of twice-daily applications, 81% receiving active drug versus 22% receiving vehicle had clearing of 50% or greater. Complete clearing was seen in 26% with active drug and 1% with vehicle. Local side effects were primarily burning or stinging in 11% and 10% of patients treated on an active or a vehicle regimen, respectively. The morning cortisol levels of 168 patients were checked at baseline and again after 2 weeks of drug therapy. Subnormal morning plasma cortisol values were seen in 5% of the patients receiving active drug and in 5% receiving vehicle; 13% of those taking active drug versus 5% taking vehicle had a 50% or greater decrease in morning cortisol at the 2-week visit compared with baseline values. Clobetasol propionate 0.05% scalp application appears to be a safe and an effective treatment for scalp psoriasis.

Mometasone furoate ointment and cream 0.1 percent in treatment of psoriasis: comparison with ointment and cream formulations of fluocinolone acetonide 0.025 percent and triamcinolone acetonide 0.1 percent

Mometasone furoate (Elocon) is a newly formulated and unique medium-potency synthetic 17-heterocyclic corticosteroid. The efficacy and safety of the ointment and cream formulations (0.1 percent) of the corticosteroid, administered once daily, were compared with those of the ointment and cream formulations of fluocinolone acetonide 0.025 percent administered three times daily and triamcinolone acetonide 0.1 percent administered twice daily in four multicenter clinical studies. They were conducted involving psoriasis patients with chronic and moderate to severe disease. Evaluation of change in disease sign scores indicated that mometasone ointment, applied once daily, was significantly more effective (P less than 0.01) than fluocinolone ointment, applied three times daily, and triamcinolone ointment, applied twice daily. The cream formulation of mometasone was significantly more effective (p less than 0.001) than fluocinolone cream, applied three times daily, and equivalent to triamcinolone cream, applied twice daily. The incidence of local adverse experiences following treatment with the ointment or cream formulations of mometasone was minimal. Mometasone ointment and cream provide a highly effective once-a-day treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis with minimal risk of side effects.

Comparison of diflorasone diacetate and betamethasone dipropionate ointment in the treatment of psoriasis

In this double-blind study, 100 patients with mild, moderate, or severe thick lesion psoriasis, characterized as acute, subacute, or chronic, were treated with either diflorasone diacetate ointment 0.05% or betamethasone dipropionate ointment 0.05% twice a day for 3 weeks. Clinical evaluations were based on overall improvement and improvement in signs or symptoms of erythema, oedema, lichenification, induration, scaliness, excoriations, pruritus, and soreness. Results showed that both medications were effective and when patients were categorized according to initial lesion severity no statistically significant differences existed between treatment groups.

Puzzling posterior pigmented pruritic patches

A rarely reported dermatologic condition occurring on the scapular area and characterized by itching and pigmentation is presented herein. Several possible etiologies are considered and a mechanism explaining the possible cause is described.

Diflorasone diacetate: vasoconstrictor activity and clinical efficacy of a new topical corticosteroid

Diflorasone diacetate, a new topical corticosteroid, was generally more potent than three high potency reference standards (fluocinonide, beta-methasone 17-valerate and fluocinolone acetonide) when the compounds were dissolved in 95% alcohol and applied in vasoconstrictor assays in healthy volunteers. On the basis of additional vasoconstrictor assay results, a 0-05% concentration of the steroid in a cream vehicle containing 15% propylene glycol was developed for therapeutic evaluation. In a double-blind comparison in 384 patients with dermatoses, 0-05% diflorasone diacetate cream was as effective as 0-05% fluocinonide cream in the therapy of lesions of psoriasis or atopic/neurodermatitis.