Comparative atrophogenicity potential of medium and highly potent topical glucocorticoids in cream and ointment according to ultrasound analysis.

24 healthy volunteers with no history of skin disease were entered in a 6-week double-blind randomized study to compare the atrophogenicity potentials of both cream and ointment forms of triamcinolone acetonide and clobetasol propionate. The atrophogenicity potential of cream preparations turned out to be greater than that of ointment preparations containing identical amounts of the same glucocorticoid. This result proves both the reproducibility of the assay and the general character of the phenomenon in view of the limited previous evidence.