Efficacy of Qingpeng ointment for the treatment of asteatotic eczema and its effect on skin barrier function: a self-controlled clinical study

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of Qingpeng ointment for the treatment of asteatotic eczema and its effect on skin barrier function. Methods A self-controlled clinical study was performed. Totally, 78 patients with asteatotic eczema symmetrically located on both lower extremities were enrolled into this study. The left and right lower extremities of these patients were treated with Qingpeng ointment (Qingpeng group) and hydrocortisone butyrate ointment (hydrocortisone butyrate group) respectively, twice a day for 4 consecutive weeks. At the end of treatment, therapeutic effect and skin barrier function were compared between the 2 groups. Results The response rate was significantly higher in the hydrocortisone butyrate group than in the Qingpeng group after 1- and 2-week treatment (week 1 : 58.97% vs. 39.74% , χ2 = 5.77, P 0.05) . Compared with the hydrocortisone butyrate group, the Qingpeng group showed significantly increased water content of the stratum corneum after 4-week treatment (P < 0.05) , and decreased transepidermal water loss after 2- and 4-week treatment (both P < 0.05) . Conclusion Qingpeng ointment is safe and effective for the treatment of asteatotic eczema with gradually increasing and stable effects, and also has a favoring effect on the restoration of skin barrier function. Key words: Eczema; Hydrocortisone; Controlled clinical trial; Qingpeng ointment; Skin barrier function