Comparative efficacy of halcinonide and fluocinonide creams in psoriasis and eszematous dermatoses.

The clinical efficacy of halcinonide and fluocinonide creams was compared in the treatment of 392 patients with corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses, including psoriasis, and various eczematous dermatoses such as atopic dermatitis, eczematous dermatitis, and neurodermatitis. The severity of the condition treated was moderate or severe in most of the patients. Usually, the creams were applied three times daily for two to three weeks. In psoriasis, halcinonide was superior to fluocinonide (P less than 0.05). There was no significant difference between halcinonide and fluocinonide in the treatment of the eczematous dermatoses. Both creams were well tolerated, each being associated with local side effects (such as burning sensation, dryness, erythema, and pruritus) in 4.9 per cent of patients.