Comparison of xeroradiographic and ultrasound detection of corticosteroid induced dermal thinning.

A pulsed ultrasound technique was shown to have a high degree of correlation with the established xeroradiographic method for the determination of dermal thickness both in normal skin and corticosteroid treated skin, although xeroradiography consistently gave a higher value than ultrasound. Using the pulsed ultrasound technique, an early onset of dermal thinning could be detected 2 days following treatment with creams containing 0.05% clobetasol propionate and 0.1% beta-methasone 17-valerate. The amount of dermal thinning produced by the clobetasol propionate preparation was significantly greater than that produced by cream base, clobetasone butyrate 0.05% cream and hydrocortisone 1% cream as determined by both techniques. The pulsed ultrasound technique is an accurate, noninvasive and safe method for determining dermal thickness.