Treatment of Seborrhoeic Dermatitis of the Scalp with Desonide 0.05% Solution

Abstract

Topical corticosteroids are commonly used for the short-term management of seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) of the scalp. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness, tolerance and cosmetic acceptability of desonide 0.05% solution, whose alcohol-free formulation is innovative with respect to traditional corticosteroid lotions, in the treatment of SD of the scalp. For this purpose, 155 adult subjects applied on scalp lesions desonide once daily for 1 week, on alternate days for 3 weeks, and two times a week for 4 weeks. A significant reduction of the severity of erythema, scaling and pruritus was observed (P<0.001). Interestingly, during the phase of gradual reduction of weekly applications, results were frequently maintained or improved further. Twenty patients (13%) at 4 weeks and 85 patients (58%) at 8 weeks had their scalp SD cleared. Most patients regarded the overall effectiveness, tolerability and acceptability as satisfactory; patients who had previously used common steroid lotions expressed a positive judgment on desonide solution compared to the other lotions in terms of efficacy, acceptability, rapidity of action, tolerability and persistence of effects. In conclusion, our preliminary findings indicate that desonide 0.05% solution is suitable for the short-term management of scalp SD.