A comparison of clobetasol propionate 0.05 percent ointment and an optimized betamethasone dipropionate 0.05 percent ointment in the treatment of psoriasis.

A multicenter, double-blind study compared the effectiveness of two highly potent topical corticosteroids in patients with moderate to severe signs of psoriasis. Left/right paired comparisons of clobetasol propionate ointment 0.05 percent, and an optimized formulation of betamethasone dipropionate ointment 0.05 percent, were made in 130 patients with roughly symmetrical psoriatic lesions. The ointments were applied by the patients twice daily, without occlusion, for two weeks. Both drugs were shown to be highly effective and were well tolerated. Significantly more patients showed greater improvement on the side treated with clobetasol propionate. Follow-up evaluation two weeks after the treatment period showed statistically significant (p less than 0.001) longer remissions resulting from the use of clobetasol propionate.