Anthralin for psoriasis: short-contact anthralin therapy compared with topical steroid and conventional anthralin.

Anthralin is an effective topical drug for psoriasis therapy. Recent studies have suggested that anthralin may be effective in high concentrations for short periods of skin contact. The purpose of these studies was to compare psoriasis improvement rates in patients treated with 0.3% anthralin ointment for 10 minutes' skin contact daily with patients treated with a topical steroid, difluorosone diacetate. A further study conducted was a bilateral paired comparison between conventional strength (0.1%-0.5%) anthralin ointment overnight with high concentration anthralin (0.5%-3%) for short contact periods of 10 minutes daily. The results showed good responses in all treatment groups. Short-contact anthralin is confirmed as a practical means of outpatient therapy for psoriasis.