A pilot study to determine the effect of tazarotene gel 0.1% on steroid-induced epidermal atrophy

• Published in: International journal of dermatology 2001-07, Vol.40 (7), p.468-471
• Main Authors: Kaidbey, Kays, Kopper, Scott C., Sefton, John, Gibson, John R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - pharmacology; Adult; Atrophy - chemically induced; Atrophy - prevention & control; Betamethasone - analogs & derivatives; Betamethasone - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Dermatologic Agents - pharmacology; Dermatologic Agents - therapeutic use; Double-Blind Method; Female; Gels; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nicotinic Acids - pharmacology; Nicotinic Acids - therapeutic use; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pilot Projects; Skin - drug effects; Skin - pathology; Skin Diseases - chemically induced; Skin Diseases - pathology; Skin Diseases - prevention & control; Skin, nail, hair, dermoskeleton; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0011-9059; 1365-4632
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-4362.2001.01234.x

Background  Repeated applications of a corticosteroid can induce epidermal atrophy. This study was performed to investigate whether the adjunctive use of tazarotene gel 0.1% might help to minimize the development of steroid‐induced epidermal atrophy. Methods  Each of 24 healthy volunteers received the following six treatments (applied 6 days per week for 4 weeks), which were randomized to each of six sites on their forearms: no treatment, tazarotene vehicle, tazarotene vehicle + tazarotene gel 0.1%, diflorasone diacetate 0.05% ointment, diflorasone diacetate 0.05% ointment + tazarotene vehicle, or diflorasone diacetate 0.05% ointment + tazarotene gel 0.1%. Results  The mean epidermal thickness was increased by 20% (NS) and 62% (P ≤ 0.0005) after applications of tazarotene vehicle and tazarotene gel 0.1%, respectively. Application of diflorasone diacetate reduced the mean epidermal thickness by 43% (P ≤ 0.0005). Concomitant application of tazarotene gel 0.1% with diflorasone diacetate did not entirely prevent atrophy, but was shown to ameliorate 37% of the epidermal atrophy induced by diflorasone diacetate alone (P ≤ 0.003 compared with steroid monotherapy). Conclusions  Tazarotene gel 0.1% significantly reduces epidermal atrophy induced by diflorasone diacetate 0.05% ointment.