IT HAS BEEN demonstrated that systemic administration of cortisone or corticotropin (ACTH) improves atopic eczema1 in the majority of cases and that cessation of treatment is almost invariably followed by a relapse. Continued treatment with maintenance doses may delay such relapses but would be too costly and not without risk. For these reasons, systemic treatment of eczema with these hormones has not been recommended.1i
Cortisone injected intradermally together with tuberculin has been shown2 to suppress the skin reaction to tuberculin in sensitized persons and to decrease itching as well as the degree of inflammatory reaction. The question arose whether local action of cortisone could be utilized for the treatment of eczema. If it was possible to avoid large systemic doses and to apply cortisone to the skin in such a way that sufficient quantities would be absorbed locally, therapeutic results could be anticipated without