Out-patient treatment of atopic dermatitis with crude coal tar.
BACKGROUND
Patients with atopic dermatitis benefit from treatment with crude coal tar. We started a program for the treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis in an out-patient facility using intermittent applications of crude coal tar.


OBJECTIVE
To study the efficacy and feasibility of an out-patient regimen using crude coal tar in atopic dermatitis.


METHODS
We treated 18 patients in the out-patient setting. A trained nurse and after thorough instruction the patients themselves at home applied crude coal tar in a zinc paste 2 or 3 times a week. We studied the improvement by visual scoring and compared the results with patients treated with daily applications at the in-patient department.


RESULTS
The improvement was comparable at the end of the treatment period for both settings. The treatment period, however, was longer for the patients treated in the out-patient setting.


CONCLUSIONS
The out-patient programme proved to be an efficacious and a well-appreciated approach.
van der Valk
P G
PG
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Snater
E
E
Verbeek-Gijsbers
W
W
Duller
P
P
van de Kerkhof
P C
PC
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D003033:Coal Tar / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010045:Outpatients; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D003033:Coal Tar