Necrobiosis lipoidica: treatment with systemic corticosteroids.

In an attempt to find an effective therapy for necrobiosis lipoidica, we have treated six patients with this disease with a 5-week course of systemic corticosteroids. This treatment resulted in complete cessation of disease activity in all patients and no recurrence in a mean follow-up period of 7 months; however, restitution of atrophic skin lesions could not be achieved. The therapy was well tolerated and did not pose problems, even in diabetic patients. These results strongly suggest that short-course therapy of necrobiosis lipoidica with corticosteroids is of lasting benefit to these patients and should probably be considered early in the course of their skin disease.