Betamethasone dipropionate ointment in the treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis: a double-blind study.

This report describes the use of a new corticosteroid ointment in the treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. It further summarizes the results of treatment with the active medication versus the vehicle alone in these two disease categories. In the group with psoriasis 13 of 17 patients (76.4%) treated with the active drug showed either excellent or good clinical response (50% to 100% improvement) in three weeks. Five of 16 patients (31.2%) treated with the placebo showed excellent or good response. In the group with atopic dermatitis 16 of 17 patients (94.1%) treated with the active drug showed either excellent or good clinical response (50% to 100% improvement) in three weeks. Two of 16 (12.5%) treated with the placebo showed excellent or good response.