Topical corticosteroids in clinical practice: focus on fluticasone propionate.

Topical corticosteroids are the most widely used agents for the treatment of inflammatory skin disease, particularly atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. In selecting the most appropriate steroid preparation to use-among the vast array currently available-the clinician must consider the severity and localization of the disease, the risk of drug-induced adverse reactions, the age of the patient, and the potency of the various agents. Due to differences in bioavailability, the vehicle and application technique of corticosteroids must also be evaluated. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated that fluticasone propionate-a fluorinated corticosteroid-is effective, safe, well tolerated, and offers the advantage of a low potential for systemic and local side effects.