Efficacious and safe management of moderate to severe scalp seborrhoeic dermatitis using clobetasol propionate shampoo 0·05% combined with ketoconazole shampoo 2%: a randomized, controlled study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Topical antifungals and corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment for seborrhoeic dermatitis. The short-contact clobetasol propionate 0·05% shampoo (CP) is an efficacious and safe once-daily treatment for scalp psoriasis.

OBJECTIVES:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CP alone and combined with ketoconazole shampoo 2% (KC) in the treatment of moderate to severe scalp seborrhoeic dermatitis.

METHODS:

This randomized and investigator-blinded study consisted of three phases, each lasting 4 weeks. During the treatment phase, subjects were randomized to receive KC twice weekly (K2), CP twice weekly (C2), CP twice weekly alternating with KC twice weekly (C2 + K2) or CP four times weekly alternating with KC twice weekly (C4+K2). All subjects received KC once weekly during the maintenance phase and were untreated during the follow-up phase.

RESULTS:

At the end of the treatment phase, all three CP-containing regimens were significantly more efficacious than K2 in decreasing the overall disease severity (P < 0·05). Both combination regimens were also significantly more efficacious than K2 in decreasing each individual sign of the disease (P < 0·05). While the C2 and C4 + K2 groups experienced slight worsening during the maintenance phase, the efficacy of C2 + K2 was sustained and remained the highest among all groups. All regimens were well tolerated without inducing any skin atrophy. Similarly low incidences of telangiectasia, burning and adverse events were observed among the four groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

The combination therapy of twice-weekly CP alternating with twice-weekly KC provided significantly greater efficacy than KC alone and a sustained effect in the treatment of moderate to severe scalp seborrhoeic dermatitis.

• Authors: J-P Ortonne, A F Nikkels, K Reich, R M Ponce Olivera, J H Lee, N Kerrouche, F Sidou, J Faergemann
• Journal: The British journal of dermatology (Br J Dermatol) Vol. 165 Issue 1 Pg. 171-6 (Jul 2011) ISSN: 1365-2133 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21707573 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2011 The Authors. BJD © 2011 British Association of Dermatologists 2011.

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Antifungal Agents
• Dermatologic Agents
• Drug Combinations
• Clobetasol
• Ketoconazole

Topics

• Administration, Cutaneous
• Adult
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Antifungal Agents (therapeutic use)
• Clobetasol (therapeutic use)
• Dermatitis, Seborrheic (drug therapy, pathology)
• Dermatologic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Drug Combinations
• Female
• Humans
• Ketoconazole (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Scalp Dermatoses (drug therapy, pathology)
• Severity of Illness Index