Atopic dermatitis - topical therapy: Do patients apply much too little?

Background: The treatment of atopic dermatitis still remains a challenge. Little research has been done on the issue of the extent to which patients correctly use prescribed topical preparations under everyday conditions. Aims: To investigate what quantity of topical preparations is applied by outpatients in daily routine treatment over a 26- week period and to what extent this consumption is related to the course of the severity of patients' skin conditions. Methods: Thirty adult outpatients ( 20 female and 10 male) with atopic dermatitis were examined at four different times during 26 weeks. For treatment and skin care these patients were given a topical glucocorticoid preparation ( prednicarbate) and the corresponding emollient. Results: The average severity rating ( SCORAD) was 29.6 ( before therapy 33.9, after 26 weeks 27.4). The SCORAD indices improved by a mean of 6.5 points ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients who applied the correct amount of the prednicarbate-containing preparations ( not less than 90% of 0.5 g/ dm(2)) to the areas of affected skin showed a significant improvement in SCORAD indices across the four measuring times.