In vivo determination of the skin atrophy potential of the super-high-potency topical corticosteroid fluocinonide 0.1% cream compared with clobetasol propionate 0.05% cream and foam, and a vehicle.
OBJECTIVE
Prolonged topical corticosteroid use is often associated with atrophic skin changes. This trial compared signs of skin atrophy related to 3 super-high-potency corticosteroids: fluocinonide 0.1% cream, clobetasol propionate 0.05% cream, and 0.05% foam.


METHODS
The test treatments were applied to the forearms 10 females twice daily for 21 days. Skin characteristics were assessed pretreatment and posttreatment for atrophic changes. Further punch biopsies obtained from 5 subjects were assessed histologically.


RESULTS
Clobetasol foam produced mild changes in noninvasive tests, but stained skin biopsies revealed structural changes nearly comparable to clobetasol cream, which showed substantial atrophic changes. Fluocinonide cream was the least atrophogenic, producing no or only mild effects that were slightly greater than vehicle.


CONCLUSIONS
Fluocinonide cream has a lower potential to produce atrophic changes of the skin than either clobetasol cream or clobetasol propionate foam.
Gans
Eugene H
EH
Hastings Senior Associates LLC, Westport, CT, USA. egans48845@aol.com
Sadiq
Iqbal
I
Stoudemayer
Tracy
T
Stoudemayer
Marianne
M
Kligman
Albert M
AM
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004643:Emollients; D004890:Erythema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005447:Fluocinonide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000139:chemically induced; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects
D004643:Emollients; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D005447:Fluocinonide; D002990:Clobetasol