Antipsoriatic effect of semi-occlusive treatment--O2-consumption, blood flow and temperature measurements compared to clinical parameters.

Ten patients with plaque-type psoriasis were treated by applying semi-permeable hydrocolloid dressings (Com-feel, Coloplast, Denmark) and the effect compared to untreated skin. The treatment effect was evaluated by: (a) O2-consumption as measured by a TCM-2 oxygen-monitor; (b) blood flow as measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry; (c) temperature measurements using thermocouples; (d) a clinical score. The treatment effect was evaluated after 1, 2 and 7 days and although there was a significant and sustained improvement in the clinical score following Day 7 (P less than 0.05), this was not associated with a significant change in any of the objective measurements during the study (P greater than 0.05). In the same patients the clinical effect of occlusion was evaluated after 21 days in another area. A pronounced effect was observed comparable to, equal to, or better than that of crude coal tar given as daily applications followed by bathing. There was no significant change in any of the parameters at the sites of untreated psoriasis.