Evaluation of halometasone ointment in the treatment of paediatric patients with chronic eczematous dermatoses.

Fifty children suffering from non-infected chronic eczematous dermatoses were treated with an ointment containing 0.05% halometasone, a new high potency trihalogenated synthetic corticosteroid. Halometasone ointment does not contain parabens or perfumes. The trial population consisted of patients (under 1 to 16 years old) with non-infected chronic nummular dermatitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis. Halometasone ointment yielded very satisfactory therapeutic results and exhibited an excellent tolerability. It produced 'good' or 'very good' results in 82% of the patients and gave an overall cure rate of 76%. The number of patients obtaining an early cure, i.e. in less than 30 days, was thirty-six (72%). An early onset of therapeutic effect, i.e. within 6 days of starting the treatment, was reported in 77.1% of the patients. All the children (including eighteen infants) tolerated halometasone ointment well and no adverse effects, either due to local skin intolerability or the transcutaneous systemic absorption of the corticoid, were observed in this trial, nor were any instances of skin atrophy reported. Cosmetic acceptability and ease of application were considered 'good' in forty-nine (98%) patients.