The Efficacy and Tolerability of Clobetasol Propionate Foam 0.05% in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Plaque-type Psoriasis of Nonscalp Regions

Abstract

Clobetasol propionate foam 0.05% is safe and effective for the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis on scalp and nonscalp areas, when applied twice daily for two weeks. As it is understood that patient dissatisfaction with select topical formulations affects their compliance with therapy, which necessarily affects the effectiveness of the therapy, the results of the patient's poststudy questionnaire suggest that there are multiple and integrated benefits for the use of clobetasol foam in the treatment of psoriasis of nonscalp sites.

Scalp psoriasis: European consensus on grading and treatment algorithm

“…In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of clobetasol propionate foam that enrolled 279 patients with scalp psoriasis, patient and physician global assessment scores improved significantly after 2 weeks (both P < 0.0001). 31 This result is supported by the findings of a randomized, single-blind comparison between clobetasol propionate foam 0.05% and clobetasol propionate solution 0.05% in 32 patients with scalp psoriasis. The study concluded that after 2 weeks, a significantly greater absolute reduction in psoriasis severity was seen in the group using the foam (P ¼ 0.03).…”

“…48 In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of clobetasol propionate foam 0.05%, patients ranked the foam as superior to other topical medications they had received, based on a quality-of-life assessment. 31 In a randomized comparison, patients spent significantly less time applying a foam-based corticosteroid treatment medication than they did applying their previous topical medications (P < 0.001); a similar trend was not observed for patients applying cream or solution-based corticosteroid treatment. 23 Similarly, a comparison of betamethasone valerate foam 0.12% with other corticosteroid or calcipotriol formulations found that the foam was considered easier and more convenient (P < 0.01).…”

“…34 The use of clobetasol propionate foam 0.05% is also associated with few adverse events, limited to mild and transient burning, or other application-site reactions. 31 The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in tar-based preparations are potentially carcinogenic. 44 Significant levels of immunological and chromosomal abnormalities have been found after treatment of non-scalp psoriasis with tar-based preparations 45 ; similar risks may attend the treatment of scalp psoriasis, although only a few cases of cancer resulting from the therapeutic use of tar have been reported.…”

“…The main reasons that patients do not comply with treatment are forgetfulness, lack of time, lack of visible effect, unclear instructions, and physical difficulties in applying treatment. 50 Many of these reasons are less significant with foams or shampoos than with creams, gels, or ointments, 31 and less significant with corticosteroids than with tar-blend products. 25 In an evaluation of clobetasol propionate foam 0.05%, patients indicated that they would be more likely to comply with a course of treatment than with a course of other topical therapies, because of its convenience and lower impact on quality of life.…”

Psoriasis: a new solution to the old problems

“…субпопуляций) в патогенезе заболевания подтверж-дается участием их в формировании псориатическо-го инфильтрата. Оценка состояния иммунной си-стемы позволяет наиболее информативно охаракте-ризовать стадии активности патологического про-цесса при псориазе, типы его течения и определить наиболее эффективные методы терапии [2][3][4][5][6][7].…”