Psoriasis: topical corticosteroid therapy.

Fifty-nine patients with bilateral psoriatic lesions were subjects in a double-blind paired comparison of halcinonide cream and fluocinonide cream. They applied the corticosteroid creams twice a day for 14 days without occlusive dressings. Objective and subjective assessment of response to therapy was made four or five days, one week, and two weeks after starting treatment. The results were analyzed by statistical methods. At the second visit (day 4 or 5), there was little difference between the two compounds, but at visits three and four, reduction of inflammation was significantly better with halcinonide than with fluocinonide.