Adjuvant role of a new emollient cream in patients with palmar and/or plantar psoriasis: a pilot randomized open-label study.

Emollients are considered important adjunctive tools for the therapeutic management of psoriasis patients. In spite of the widespread use, the actual impact of emollients on psoriasis is far to be completely elucidated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a new emollient cream containing milk proteins and Glycyrrhiza glabra extracts in patients with palmar and/or plantar psoriasis treated with topical corticotherapy. This pilot open parallel-group trial was carried out in 40 patients with palmar and/or plantar psoriasis. Patients were randomized to receive monotherapy with mometasone furoate ointment, applied once daily to the palmoplantar lesions until remission and for a maximum of 4 weeks (N=20), or the same topical corticotherapy in combination with the emollient cream (N=20). The emollient was applied twice a day for 4 weeks. Clinical assessments were performed at baseline and 2 and 4 weeks after the start of treatment. All patients completed the study and showed a progressive improvement of their palmo-plantar psoriasis over the treatment period, achieving at week 4 a statistical significant reduction in the severity of all clinical signs (erythema, desquamation and infiltration) and in the surface area affected. The comparison between the two groups showed no differences in the mean average duration of corticosteroid therapy, whereas a significantly greater improvement of desquamation, surface area affected, and subjective symptoms was observed at week 4 in the group treated with the corticotherapy combined with the emollient as compared to patients who received the corticotherapy alone. This pilot experience suggests the importance of the adjuvant role of particular emollients in the management of psoriasis.