General dermatologic use of hydroxamic acid.

Fifty clinic patients with mild to moderately severe dermatoses were treated for three weeks with bufexamac, a hydroxamic acid compound with anti-inflammatory properties. Half the patients had either contact or seborrheic dermatitis; the remaining 25 were distributed among five other diagnostic categories. Evaluation and grading of signs and symptoms were done at initial visit; changes resulting from topical treatment with bufexamac cream were monitored at weekly intervals. Forty-three (86%) patients had a good or very good response; seven were treatment failures. In terms of weighted response scores, those of patients with seborrheic, contact, or solar dermatitis were above the median for all scores, with lesser intensity of efficacy in the remaining diagnostic groups. Clinical cures were noted in 20 patients by week 2, in 17 by week 3, and six by the fourth or fifth week. No side effects were reported.