Topical corticosteroid inhibits autoregulation of cutaneous blood flow

In eight healthy persons, the skin-fold between the thumb and the forefinger was treated with a potent corticosteroid under occlusive dressings. Before treatment and following 10, 24, 48 and 72 h of steroid application, cutaneous autoregulation of blood flow and reactive hyperaemia were measured by means of the atraumatic epicutaneous 133Xe washout technique. Using the outer 2 mm of the skin-fold, and shielding the rest of the hand with a lead plate, cutaneous blood flow rate could be monitored separately. After 10 h of treatment, autoregulation of blood flow was almost unaffected, but after 24 h of treatment and during the following 2 days, the autoregulatory response exhibited a significant reduction, which correlated to steroid application time. Reactive hyperaemia demonstrated a clear, but insignificant, reduction at 10 h of treatment; however during the following 48 h, maximal post-occlusive blood flow rate was significantly reduced. Placebo did not affect either autoregulation of blood flow or reactive hyperaemia.