Commercial glucocorticoid formulations and skin dryness : could it be caused by the vehicle ?

• Published in: Acta dermato-venereologica Vol. 71; no. 3; pp. 261 - 263
• Main Authors: KORTING, H. C, KERSCHER, M, VIELUF, D, MEHRINGER, L, MEGELE, M, BRAUN-FALCO, O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Uppsala Acta dermato-venereologica 1991
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Double-Blind Method; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Eczema - chemically induced; Emollients - administration & dosage; Emollients - adverse effects; Female; Forearm; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Pharmaceutical Vehicles - adverse effects; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Skin - pathology; Toxicity: skin, dermoskeleton; Human; Skin disease; Toxicity; Volunteer; Vehicle(excipient); Normal; Glucocorticoid; Formulation; Eczema; Dosage form; Skin; Drought; Topical administration
• ISSN: 0001-5555; 1651-2057
• DOI: 10.2340/0001555571261263

Eczema craquelé can be induced by repeated open application of a topical glucocorticoid, viz. 0.05% clobetasole 17-propionate cream. This might not be invariably due to the active component. Comparison of the skin surface roughness as assessed by profilometry and as expressed by RZDIN showed a decrease after repeated open application of 0.1% betamethasone 17-valerate cream and 0.25% prednicarbate cream, but an increase following the vehicle of the latter preparation. Thus commercial oil-in-water emulsion preparations seem to be potentially injurious to human skin, though this may be masked when a glucocorticoid is added.