Anti-inflammatory adrenal steroids that neither inhibit skin collagen synthesis nor cause dermal atrophy.

Clinically used topical anti-inflammatory adrenal steroids inhibit skin collagen synthesis. This impaired collagen synthesis may result in dermal atrophy. Structure activity studies contrasted the effects of the novel prednisolone derivatives, methylprednisolonate , and methyl 20 dihydroprednisolonate , with presently used anti-inflammatory adrenal steroids on granuloma formation and skin collagen synthesis. These two new prednisolone derivatives, when applied locally at equivalent-potency anti-inflammatory doses compared with other corticosteroids, markedly inhibit granuloma formation but do not inhibit skin collagen synthesis nor cause dermal atrophy in rats. The data indicate that the two prednisolone acid methyl esters may be safer topical anti-inflammatory adrenal steroids to use, since they do not inhibit normal skin collagen synthesis.