Vasoconstrictor and the anti-inflammatory effects of 7 corticosteroids

The vasoconstrictor effect of 7 proprietary corticosteroid creams was compared with their effect on patches of allergic contact dermatitis provoked by patch testing in 20 subjects. A parallel between the blanching effect on the normal skin and the anti-inflammatory effect on the eczematous skin was generally found. A modified patch test method using the Finn chamber technique is described, which (with certain restrictions) offers an opportunity of studying the anti-inflammatory effect of corticosteroids on allergic dermatitis under standard conditions.