Local Glucocorticoids in Treatment of Children with Dermatitis

Abstract

Local glucocorticoids (GCs) are the gold standard of anti-inflammatory topical therapy. The description of the main pharmaceutics properties and classification of local GCs, as well as its indications and contradictions are presented in the article. This article also provides fundamentals for application of local GCs which should be implemented for effective and safe use of these drugs in children. The problems of steroid-phobia (one of the reasons of the wrong and untimely administration of local GCs) are discussed. Advantages of 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate (new generation GCs) use are discussed. This medication has optimal efficiency/safety ratio and unique bioactivation pathway that enables its effective administration in management of various dermatitis in children from 4 months of age. Results of different comparative and double blind placebo-controlled clinical trials of 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate administration are discussed in this article. High efficiency and safety of this medication are noted. The use of modern local GCs at the first signs of skin inflammatory changes allows to relieve aggravation quickly and achieve remission of the disease.

Keywords

• local glucocorticoids
• children
• dermatitis
• atopic dermatitis
• methylprednisolone aceponate