Thirty-three patients with acute or subacute
eczematous dermatitis were treated for two weeks in a double-blind, parallel-group study to compare the efficacy and cosmetic acceptability of 0.1 percent
amcinonide cream and 0.1 percent
halcinonide cream. Patients in both treatment groups showed significant (p less than 0.05) improvement from baseline for most signs and symptoms at the three evaluation times (days 3, 7, and 14). Comparisons between groups showed no significant differences at any evaluation except at day 14, when the amicinonide-treated patients had significantly (p = 0.04) less
edema. The physician's evaluations were not significantly different except at day 7, when the
halcinonide patients showed significantly (p = 0.04) more overall improvement. The patients' overall evaluations were not significantly different at any time. In general, both creams were cosmetically acceptable. At day 3, seven
amcinonide patients noted skin tightening compared to one
halcinonide patient; four
halcinonide patients (as well as two at day 7 and one at day 14) reported stinging compared to only one
amcinonide patient. In addition, two
halcinonide patients reported a burning sensation at one or more evaluations compared to no such reports from
amcinonide patients. One other side effect, a
metallic taste in the mouth, occurred in a
halcinonide-treated patient.