[Advances in topical therapy of skin diseases (author's transl)].

The anti-inflammatory effect of the new topical corticosteroid fluocortin butyl ester is approximately equal to that of hydrocortisone acetate but it has the advantage that systemic side-effects are lacking. Vitamin A acid and benzoyl peroxide have brought significant advances in the topical treatment of acne. For the treatment of chloasma and other hyperpigmentations the combination of vitamin A acid and hydroquinone with a corticoid is considerably more effective than any of the single components alone. Povidone-iodine with its extraordinarily low sensitization rate has proved useful for external antimicrobial treatment. Extensive or multiple precancerous lesions are effectively treated with 5-fluorouracil. New hair growth can be induced in alopecia areata by the local application of DNCB.