Local treatment of psoriasis of the scalp with clobetasol propionate and betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate: a double-blind comparison

Abstract

A double-blind evaluation was carried out in 40 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis of the scalp to assess the effectiveness of a 0.05% alcoholic solution of clobetasol propionate as compared with a 0.05% alcoholic solution of betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate. Patients were treated on a non-selective basis with a twice a day application for 2 weeks. When comparing the effects on the parameters scaling, induration, erythema and itching it was concluded that clobetasol propionate was superior to betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate as an antipsoriatic compound. Clobetasol propionate did not cause any side-effects, while 2 of the patients using betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate developed a forehead folliculitis during the second week of treatment.