Validation of Dermaphot(®) for the assessment of steroid-induced skin atrophy

Currently, there are no accurate and simple methods available to measure this risk of atrophy in patients treated with topical glucocorticosteroids. In the present clinical trial, we validated a new score (Dermaphot(®) score) to assess the atrophogenic potential of glucocorticosteroids. 36 healthy adult volunteers were included in an investigator-initiated, blinded, randomized, intra-individual comparison, vehicle controlled multi-centre study. Subjects were treated in a randomized manner for 3 weeks with pimecrolimus cream 1 %, mometasone furoate (1 mg/g), clobetasol propionate 0.05 % and vehicle. In addition, ultrasound examination for skin thickness was performed. Data demonstrated a direct correlation of the achieved Dermaphot(®) score and the ultrasound thickness measurements. Our study shows that the Dermaphot(®) score can be used as a simple method to evaluate the atrophogenic potential of glucocorticosteroids. Respectively, we showed that the new score is an easy, valid and sensitive new tool for early detecting and quantifying even subclinical glucocorticosteroid-induced skin damage. We demonstrated that the score is able to differentiate the extent of skin atrophy (damage) after 3 weeks of topical glucocorticosteroid application with different levels of skin transparency and levels of telangiectasia.