Topical treatment with urea-hydrocortisone in atopic dermatitis. A controlled study against betamethasone 17-valerate.

When comparing 1% hydrocortisone in a stabilized 10% urea cream with 0.1% betamethasone 17-valerate cream in a double-blind study on 49 patients with atopic dermatitis or atopic winter feet, betamethasone cream was found to be the most potent. The study also showed that in approximately 60% of the patients the clinical response was equal. It is suggested that the urea-hydrocortisone combination may have its place in the long-term topical treatment of atopic dermatitis on account of its water-binding effect.