Addition of a topically applied corticosteroid to a modified Goeckerman regimen for treatment of psoriasis: effect on duration of remission.

A double-blind parallel group study was undertaken to assess the effect of adding a topically applied corticosteroid cream to a modified Goeckerman regimen to treat patients with psoriasis. Nineteen patients with psoriasis were treated with either this regimen and hydrocortisone valerate cream or the regimen and vehicle cream. Patients were given daily treatments until their skin cleared or until twenty-eight treatments were received. They were then followed up until rebound or relapse occurred or 6 months had passed. The addition of hydrocortisone valerate cream to the modified Goeckerman regimen led to relapse after 5.9 weeks in comparison with 17.9 weeks for the control group.