title: Increasing use of non-traditional vehicles for psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although topical corticosteroid ointments were once viewed as the best vehicle for treating inflammatory skin diseases, the recognition of the problem of poor compliance and patients' preferences for other vehicles has led to the development of corticosteroid products in alternative formulations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe patterns of use of newer vehicle formulations including foams, shampoos, sprays, and lotions for the treatment of psoriasis and other dermatoses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The use of non-traditional vehicles was identified using visit with diagnoses for psoriasis and other dermatoses from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey 2000-2010 data. Trends in corticosteroid vehicles mentions were evaluated over the study period to determine how the use of non-traditional vehicles has changed. The odds ratios of being prescribed a nontraditional vehicle were reported for patient and office-based characteristics of visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 2.3% and 1.9% of visits mentioned foam and other non-traditional vehicles (shampoo, lotion, spray), respectively. The use of corticosteroids in shampoo, lotion, or spray preparations increased by 0.5% annually (p=0.008) but did not significantly change for corticosteroids in a foam preparation (p=0.10). Psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis were the leading diagnoses at visits prescribed corticosteroids in nontraditional vehicles. Dermatologists were more likely than non-dermatologists to prescribe foam products [OR: 8.4 (3.6, 19.9)] or clobetasol in another non-traditional vehicle [OR: 49.7 (10.3, 240.5)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Product vehicle was not specified for all corticosteroids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there was increasing use of non-traditional vehicles, the rate of use has remained low. Dermatologists appear to have greater familiarity with the use of these newer vehicle formulations than do physicians in other specialties.
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cantrell
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Feldman
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012628:Dermatitis, Seborrheic / Q000188:drug therapy; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D063465:Skin Cream
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D002990:Clobetasol