Assessment of atrophy of human skin caused by corticosteroids using chamber occlusion and suction blister techniques.

The effect of five corticosteroid ointments on epidermal thickness was studied using occlusive chamber application. Thinning of the epidermis and telangiectasia were noted 3 weeks after application of betamethasone-17-valerate (BV), budesonide (BD), clobetasol-17-propionate (CP), and fluocinolone acetonide (FA), but not of hydrocortisone (HC). Suction blisters were raised at the treated sites. Epidermal thinning was always associated with reduction in cell number. By combining different methods it seems possible to define more precisely the epidermal effects of various corticosteroid preparation.