Hand Eczema (HE) Treatment Study

Hand eczema (HE) is a common condition with diverse causes and symptoms. Various treatment options exist, including topical creams.

Study Overview

Hand eczema presents with symptoms such as itching, dryness, burning sensation, and erythema, impacting patients' quality of life. Triamcinolone cream is a standard treatment, but sulfur cream's effectiveness remains uncertain. In this study, researchers compared the efficacy of triamcinolone 0.1% cream and sulfur 2% cream in treating Hand Eczema. Researchers have found that topical sulfur cream (2.0%) is equally effective as triamcinolone (0.1%) cream in treating Hand eczema.

This study has been published in the Journal Of Cosmetic Dermatology by Asilian and colleagues.

Methodology

Researchers conducted a randomized, triple-blind clinical trial involving 70 patients with HE, treating both their right and left hands. Participants received either triamcinolone 0.1% cream or sulfur 2.0% cream twice daily for 4 weeks, with a 4-week follow-up period. Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) and symptom scores were collected and compared between the two treatment groups.

Key Findings

• In the study involving 70 patients with hand eczema (HE), both triamcinolone and sulfur creams demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) scores.
• As well as alleviating itching, dryness, burning sensation, and erythema.
• These therapeutic benefits were sustained for at least 4 weeks post-treatment cessation, indicating potential long-term effects.
• Importantly, neither cream elicited prominent adverse reactions, suggesting their safety profiles are favorable for treating HE.

Conclusion

The study concludes that topical sulfur cream (2.0%) is equally effective as triamcinolone (0.1%) cream in treating Hand eczema, with no significant adverse reactions noted. This finding provides patients and clinicians with another viable treatment option for HE.

Reference

Asilian, A., Mohammadian, P., Hosseini, S. M., Heidaripour, F., Yekta, A., & Nateghi, M. R. (2024). Comparison of the effect of topical triamcinolone 0.1% cream with sulfur 2.0% cream in the treatment of patients with hand eczema: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.16208