[Effect of modified wuhua decoction on skin barrier function in facial corticosteroid addictive dermatitis patients].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the clinical efficacy of modified Wuhua Decoction (WHD) on corticosteroid addictive dermatitis (CsAD) and in improving patients' facial skin barrier function.


METHODS
Seventy-five patients were randomly assigned to two groups, the 38 in the treated group treated with WHD together with oral administration of levocetirizine tablet, while the 37 in the control group treated with levocetirizine tablet alone in the same way, 30 days as a course. Skin erythema dose (ED) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) of patients were measured before and after treatment.


RESULTS
Five cases in the treated group and 7 cases in the control group were dropped out. The total effective rate was 69.7% (23/33 cases) in the treated group and 10.0% (3/30 cases) in the control group respectively, with the score of objective symptoms reduced from 5.48 +/- 1.60 before treatment to 1.24 +/- 1.62 after treatment and the score of subjective symptoms reduced from 7.06 +/- 1.54 to 1.55 +/- 1.72 in the treated group, while in the control group, the two indexes reduced from 5.57 +/- 1.25 to 3.27 +/- 1.55 and from 6.77 +/- 1.36 to 3.07 +/- 1.36 respectively, showing significant difference between the two groups and the efficacy in the treated group was better than that in the control group (P <0.01). Skin ED decreased significantly in the treated group after treatment, and insignificantly in the control group. TEWL began to decrease on the 15th day in the treated group, while it was unchanged in the control group; on the 30th day, although a decrease was shown in both groups, its reduction was lower in the treated group (P <0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
WHD has significant clinical efficacy on CsAD, it could reduce the skin ED and quickly recover the injured facial skin barrier function.
Chen
Shu-Yue
SY
3rd Municipal Hospital of Hangzhou City, Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou.
Song
Wei-Ming
WM
Du
Xiao-Hang
XH
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005145:Face; D006801:Humans; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C550103:wuhua