Patients afflicted with intertriginous psoriasis (IP) could possibly expect relief coming their way when an application of topical corticosteroids and maintenance with a less potent agent in the short-term are made available to them, according to a study conducted by Alexander Kreuter, M.D, from Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany, and colleagues.

This finding also nullified all myths that were previously associated with side effects of topical corticosteroids in the long run.

From Bio-Medicine.Org:

In this study, Alexander Kreuter, M.D, from Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany, and colleagues conducted a randomized controlled trial that compared 1 percent pimecrolimus (a new anti-inflammatory drug), 0.005 percent calcipotriol, 0.1 percent betamethasone and the vehicle (a similarly appearing cream with no active drug) in the treatment of IP with a four-week treatment period and a six-week follow-up without therapy. A total of 80 adult patients with the clinical diagnosis of IP were included, 20 patients in each of the four treatment groups.

“After four weeks of treatment, the three active compounds and the vehicle resulted in a significant decrease in mean (average) M-PASI score [Modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index] (86.4 percent for 0.1 percent betamethasone, 62.4 percent for 0.005 percent calcipotriol, 39.7 percent for 1 percent pimecrolimus and 21.1 percent for vehicle),” the researchers found. “The 0.1 percent betamethasone was significantly more effective than 1 percent pimecrolimus during the study period.”

It is expected that the finding will have implications to offer relief to intertriginous psoriasis patients who usually have complains about intense itching, irritation from sweating, and soreness.