Radiographic measurement of topical corticosteroid-induced atrophy.
Soft tissue x-ray techniques were used to measure skin thickness as influenced by the chronic usage of topical corticosteroids. In a double-blind study commercial preparations of 1% hydrocortisone (HC), 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide (TA), and a placebo cream were compared for their ability to produce atrophy in normal human forearm skin. After 8 weeks of topical application of the creams, only TA produced clinically apparent atrophy. The average percent decreases in skin thickness measured after 8 weeks of treatment with placebo, HC, or TA were 6.0%, 6.0%, and 17.1%, respectively. During the first week after cessation of treatment the clinical appearance of the skin began to improve and by 1 month all treated skin areas had essentially returned to pretreatment thickness.
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001284:Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D011859:Radiography; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000009:adverse effects
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010919:Placebos; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; D006854:Hydrocortisone