Ultraviolet irradiation-induced inflammation: effects of steroid and nonsteroid anti-inflammatory agents.

The effect of combined topical applications of a steroid and nonsteroid anti-inflammatory agent on erythema induced by ultraviolet-B irradiation (UV-B) was evaluated. In human volunteers, the combination more effectively suppressed UV-B--induced erythema than either agent alone. When applied singly, the nonsteroid agent was far more effective than the steroid. The combination, or either agent alone, was most effective when applied immediately after irradiation. This study demonstrates that for the treatment of UV-B--induced erythema, the anti-inflammation effects of these two classes of anti-inflammatory agents are greater when used in combination than when either agent is used alone. However, the effect of the combination in this study is not sufficiently long-lasting to be therapeutically useful.