Short-term Topical Corticosteroid Treatment can offer relief for Acute PsoriasisIn a recent study, it was remarked that the short-term application of topical corticosteroids and maintenance with a less potent agent can help patients fighting against intertriginous psoriasis (IP).

The study was conducted by Alexander Kreuter, M.D, from Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany, and colleagues.

From Bio-Medicine.Org:

In this study, Alexander Kreuter, M.D, from Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany, and colleagues conducted a randomized controlled trial that compared 1 percent pimecrolimus (a new anti-inflammatory drug), 0.005 percent calcipotriol, 0.1 percent betamethasone and the vehicle (a similarly appearing cream with no active drug) in the treatment of IP with a four-week treatment period and a six-week follow-up without therapy. A total of 80 adult patients with the clinical diagnosis of IP were included, 20 patients in each of the four treatment groups.

“After four weeks of treatment, the three active compounds and the vehicle resulted in a significant decrease in mean (average) M-PASI score [Modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index] (86.4 percent for 0.1 percent betamethasone, 62.4 percent for 0.005 percent calcipotriol, 39.7 percent for 1 percent pimecrolimus and 21.1 percent for vehicle),” the researchers found. “The 0.1 percent betamethasone was significantly more effective than 1 percent pimecrolimus during the study period.”

The above findings are believed to offer relief to all those patients who have been suffering from intertriginous psoriasis (IP) and complaining of soreness, intense itching, and irritation from sweating.

It was previously believed that the application of topical corticosteroids has some side-effects when used in long-term but this study has completely refuted such beliefs.

To sum up, it was remarked during the study that the short-term application of corticosteroids for acute disease followed by a maintenance treatment with a less potent agency can be regarded as a reasonable approach for IP treatment.

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