A 4-week, bilateral, controlled study was carried out in 53 patients with various acute and chronic
dermatoses to compare the effectiveness of 0.1%
halcinonide in a water-miscible base, applied once daily, with 0.05%
betamethasone dipropionate cream applied twice daily. Patients' response to treatment was assessed at the end of each week.
Halcinonide proved to be equally as effective as
betamethasone dipropionate in most and superior in some patients with
psoriasis, lichen chronicus simplex, and atopic and
neurodermatitis. There was also a prompt response to once daily treatment with
halcinonide in patients with
contact dermatitis,
eczema of the hands, and more serious cases of
eczema nummulare and allergic skin reactions, many of whom had failed to respond to previous topical
steroid therapy. Both preparations were well tolerated and side-effects were noted in only 1 patient with
psoriasis whose condition was aggravated by
halcinonide. Only 3 patients had a relapse during the 1-month follow-up period
after treatment was stopped.