Treatment of dermatoses with local application of hydrocortisone acetate.

Abstract

Previously published reports 1 have established the value of locally applied hydrocortisone acetate as a temporary relief measure for the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, pruritus vulvae, and pruritus ani. The present communication offers a critical evaluation of the effect of this drug in the treatment of various dermatoses in 418 patients and a discussion of the modifying effects of vehicles on the therapeutic activity of hydrocortisone. Sulzberger and his associates 1b stated that the efficacy of hydrocortisone when applied locally was enhanced by the absence of the undesirable side-effects noted when cortisone was administered systemically. They noted improvement in atopic dermatitis, eczematous eruptions, pruritus ani, and pruritus vulvae, but found the preparations to be of no value in the therapy of psoriasis, chronic discoid lupus erythematosus, alopecia areata, and pemphigus vulgaris. They believed the 5% concentration ointment to be more effective than lower concentrations, but the difference was not great