COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF KETOCONAZOLE 2-PERCENT FOAMING GEL AND BETAMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE 0.05-PERCENT LOTION IN THE TREATMENT OF SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS IN ADULTS

Sixty-two patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis were treated topically with a 2% ketoconazole foaming gel or with a 0.05% betamethasone dipropionate lotion in a single-blind study for 4 months. Changes in the number of Pityrosporum ovale were scored by a mycologist. The investigator rated the severity of erythema, scaling and itching of the patients' scalp, eyelashes, nasolabial folds and thorax. In addition, both the investigator and the patients evaluated the treatments globally. At the end of treatment, the response rate for ketoconazole 2% foaming gel was significantly higher than that for betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% lotion according to the global evaluation by the physician (89 vs. 62%, p < 0.05) and the patient (89 vs. 65%, p < 0.05). Ketoconazole was also superior to betamethasone with reference to the evolution of the symptoms, irrespective of their localization. This efficacy manifested itself by a significant reduction of the number of P. ovale on the scalp in the ketoconazole group (p < 0.001) compared to the betamethasone group, in which the count was hardly changed during therapy. The treatment was also better tolerated in the ketoconazole group (5 vs. 16 patients with side-effects, p < 0.001). It is concluded that ketoconazole 2% foaming gel offers an excellent alternative to local corticosteroids in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis.