[Development and regression of dermal corticosteroid atrophy. 1. Change in the skinfold thickness]

We developed a method to test how quickly conventional corticosteroid ointments produce a reduction of dermal thickness and how rapidly this remits. This method is based on a measurement instrument which forms a fold from a 9 mm wide area of skin and continuously compresses it. The skin fold thickness (SFT) can be calculated from the compression plot, whereas the rate of compression (CR) can be taken as a measure of the mechanical behavior of the dermis. Clobetasol-17-propionate, betamethanone-17-valerate, diflorasone-17,21-diacetate, triamcinolane acetonide, hydrocortisone (in 10% urea), hydrocortisone butyrate and a mixture of clocortolone-21-pivalate and clocortolone-21-hexynoate were tested. The steroid products were applied under occlusive conditions for 17 d (for about 10 h during the night). Apart from hydrocortisone, the steroids led to a significant reduction in skin thickness within 6 to 10 d. After the end of the 17 d test, skin thickness returned to normal within 6 to 10 d. Non-steroidal control ointments, tested in the same way, caused a slight increase in thickness of the skin.