Psoriasis treatment with betamethasone dipropionate using short-term application and short-term occlusion.

High rates of penetration and of transepidermal water loss in psoriatic lesions allow reduction in the periods of application and occlusion, respectively, in corticoid treatment. In 11 patients application for 3-5 min combined with occlusion for 20 min was as effective as classical long-term corticoid treatment. On the other hand it was demonstrated by means of the vasoconstriction test that both reduction in time of application and occlusion to these periods led to a reduction in the amount of steroid absorbed by healthy skin. Thus "Short contact therapy" would probably minimize the steroid absorption by the uninvolved skin surrounding the psoriatic lesions, thereby reducing the risk of side-effects in treatment with potent corticoids.