Epidermal thinning: Evaluation of commercial corticosteroids

Abstract

Epidermal thinning of mouse tail skin was compared for commercial preparations of clobetasol propionate (Dermovate), clobetasone butyrate (Eumovate), fluocinonide (Metosyn), and hydrocortisone butyrate (Locoid). The thickness measurements were ranked with those for hydrocortisone (1%), betamethasone valerate (Betnovate), triamcinolone acetonide (Ledercort), fluocinolone acetonide (Synlar), and prednisolone stearoylglycolate (Sinistrone) obtained in a previous study (Spearman and Jarrett, 1975). All steroids caused epidermal thinning, except clobetasone butyrate. Some cream and ointment vehicles were also assayed. Epidermal thickening was caused by the cream and ointment vehicles used for Eumovate and also by the cream employed for Locoid formulation.

Investigation of the Skin Thinning Effect of Prednicarbate and Other Corticoids in Mouse Skin

“…The tail epidermis of mice is excellently suited to test effects of topical CS [9,10]. In accordance to the suggestions by Spearman and Jarret [9], our histological measure ments only were performed in the interfollicular regions of the dermal-epidermal bor der up to the base of the stratum corneum.…”