[Urea in combination with corticosteroids in treating eczema]

Abstract

Tar distillates and topical corticosteroids are still being used to treat chronic eczema. With the use of halogenised corticosteroids local and systemic side-effects are increasing. There fore this both doctor and patient often reject treatment. To avoid this a local treatment with corticosteroids should be effective without having side-effects. In a double-blind investigation we compared a new preparation of 1% hydrocortisone plus 10% urea with hydrocortisone 17-valerate in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. There was no difference between the two preparations concerning the improvement of symptoms and the course of the disease. However, as opposed to the monopreparation, the combination of hydrocortisone and urea caused no side-effects.