EFFECTS OF A LOW-POTENCY CORTICOSTEROID LOTION PLUS A MOISTURIZING REGIMEN IN THE TREATMENT OF ATOPIC-DERMATITIS

Treatment goals for atopic dermatitis consist of attempting to elimina te inflammation and infection, hydrating the skin, controlling pruritu s, and avoiding exacerbative factors. The aim of this study was to eva luate the effects of adding a moisturizing regimen to a low-potency to pical corticosteroid lotion regimen in the treatment of atopic dermati tis, This controlled, randomized, investigator-masked 3-week study was undertaken to compare twice-daily applications of desonide lotion 0.0 5% alone with twice-daily applications of desonide lotion 0.05% plus t hree-times-daily applications of a moisturizing cream, The efficacy va riables assessed included erythema, dryness or scaling, pruritus, exco riations, lichenification, oozing or crusting, and induration or papul es. Administration of desonide lotion alone created statistically sign ificant improvement in total sign and symptom scores. The addition of a moisturizer to the treatment regimen produced additional statistical ly significant improvement in total sign and symptom scores, physician s' global assessments of improvement, and most of the individual effic acy variables. Results of this study suggest that the addition of a mo isturizer to a low-potency corticosteroid lotion in separate regimens was effective in treating the signs and symptoms of mild-to-moderate a topic dermatitis.