CLINICAL EVALUATION OF FIVE-TENTHS PER CENT HYDROCORTISONE OINTMENT

Hydrocortisone has now been established as an effective medication for topical use in many dermatologic conditions.*Most investigators have reported on the value of a 1% concentration of hydrocortisone acetate and have stated that concentrations below 1% were of no value.† It has recently been shown,‡ however, that the free alcohol of hydrocortisone is more effective topically than the hydrocortisone acetate. Accordingly, an ointment containing a concentration of a 0.5% hydrocortisone free alcohol was clinically evaluated and compared with the same ointment in a 1% concentration. Our results showed that a 0.5% hydrocortisone free alcohol ointment is a useful and effective medication topically. METHODS AND MATERIALS Two hundred eighty-two patients were treated with two ointments containing a concentration of 0.5% hydrocortisone free alcohol and 1% hydrocortisone free alcohol. Wherever possible, contralateral areas were treated with each ointment for comparative evaluation.