Atopic Dermatitis: a Short Summary
Poster:
A retrospective analysis of the topical preparations used by melasma patients of darker skin types – highlighting the rampant use of triple combination formulations
Kandhari R
- The authors sought to evaluate the use of Triple Combination (TC) creams by the population in India (Hydroquinone-Retinoid-Steroid)
- TCs consist of the combination of hydroquinone, a steroid, and a retinoid
Patients were evaluated in a retrospective analysis in 69 patients. The treatment duration was of at least 3 months. The following criteria were recorded:
- Preparation:
- single agent
- combination of agents
- How the product was obtained/ how follow up was made:
- supervised (clinician)
- unsupervised (self application)
- both
- concentration
- duration of use
- regular or intermittent usage
Results
Frequency of use:
- Over half of the patients used a triple combination (n=36)
How the product was used and whether it was supervised:
- 10% (N=6) of patients self-applied the medication or were under the exclusive supervision of a clinician.
- More than a third (N=24) of patients self medicated after having been counseled by a clinician
Side effects:
- Erythema in almost half of patients (N=27)
- Hypertrichosis in almost a third of patients (N=21)
- Other recorded side effects:
- acneiform eruptions
- telangiectasia
- rosaceaform eruptions
Conclusion
- There is a rampant use of triple combinations (TC)
- Patients use them in a prolonged and unsupervised manner
Comments
- Only Dermatologists or experimented physicians (doctors) should prescribe TC’s as they warrant a prolonged medical supervision of potentially serious side effects
- What is very alarming is that the study mentions no diagnosis.
- Therefore it is worrying to note that while TC’s are classically prescribed for melasma (chloasma, pregnancy mask), their anarchical use has been widely extended to anything with pigmentation.
Contributors:
Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland
Source of Information: 2012 (09) – Sachdev M. .21st Annual Congress of the EADV (European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology) – Prague (Praha), Czech Republic (česká republika)
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