A pilot study to determine the effect of tazarotene gel 0.1% on steroid-induced epidermal atrophy.
BACKGROUND
Repeated applications of a corticosteroid can induce epidermal atrophy. This study was performed to investigate whether the adjunctive use of tazarotene gel 0.1% might help to minimize the development of steroid-induced epidermal atrophy.


METHODS
Each of 24 healthy volunteers received the following six treatments (applied 6 days per week for 4 weeks), which were randomized to each of six sites on their forearms: no treatment, tazarotene vehicle, tazarotene vehicle + tazarotene gel 0.1%, diflorasone diacetate 0.05% ointment, diflorasone diacetate 0.05% ointment + tazarotene vehicle, or diflorasone diacetate 0.05% ointment + tazarotene gel 0.1%.


RESULTS
The mean epidermal thickness was increased by 20% (NS) and 62% (P < or = 0.0005) after applications of tazarotene vehicle and tazarotene gel 0.1%, respectively. Application of diflorasone diacetate reduced the mean epidermal thickness by 43% (P < or = 0.0005). Concomitant application of tazarotene gel 0.1% with diflorasone diacetate did not entirely prevent atrophy, but was shown to ameliorate 37% of the epidermal atrophy induced by diflorasone diacetate alone (P < or = 0.003 compared with steroid monotherapy).


CONCLUSIONS
Tazarotene gel 0.1% significantly reduces epidermal atrophy induced by diflorasone diacetate 0.05% ointment.
Kaidbey
K
K
Ivy Laboratories (KGL, Inc.), University City Science Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Kopper
S C
SC
Sefton
J
J
Gibson
J R
JR
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001706:Biopsy; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D012176:Retinoids
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001623:Betamethasone; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005782:Gels; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; C086827:tazarotene; D012176:Retinoids; C014477:diflorasone