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The objective of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy and acceptability of two dithranol creams (Micanol and Amitase) in patients with plaque type psoriasis treating themselves daily at home. Thirty-five patients started with Amitase (0.1%) and 37 with Micanol (0.1%) applied at night in this 6-week single-blind parallel groups comparison study. Patients who responded more slowly than a theoretically estimated "standard" rate of improvement had their concentration increased to 0.25% at the visit after 2 or 4 weeks. By the end of the study slightly more than half of the number of patients remained on 0.1%. There was no difference between the treatment groups. In comparison with the level at start the composite sign severity score for patients in the Amitase group was reduced by 24% after 1 week, 36% after 2 weeks, 49% after 4 weeks and 62% after 6 weeks. The reduction in the Micanol group was similar. Patients in the Micanol group showed after 1 week of treatment more irritative reactions than patients in the Amitase group. At all follow-up visits, staining of perilesional skin was more prevalent in the Micanol group. Staining of clothing was, however, far more prevalent and severe for patients given the Amitase cream. It may be concluded that Micanol is an important alternative for home treatment of psoriasis.

One hundred and six patients with acne vulgaris of the face were treated for 10 weeks with either topical meclocycline sulfosalicylate, topical benzoyl peroxide or both preparations. A randomized, double-blind parallel group study was used. Benzoyl peroxide proved more effective than meclocycline in reducing acne lesion counts, while local side effects were more common in the benzoyl peroxide-treated patients. The combined treatment was of intermediate efficacy with fewer local side effects.

960 schoolgirls of ages 8, 11 and 15 years were investigated regarding the frequency of ear piercing and the prevalence of nickel and cobalt allergy. 72% had had their ears pierced. The prevalence of nickel allergy in the whole material was 9%, among girls with pierced ears 13% and among those without pierced ears 1%. The results show that the prevalence of nickel allergy is just as high among schoolgirls as among adult women. There is a clear relationship between ear piercing and induction of nickel allergy. Prophylactic measures to reduce the prevalence of nickel allergy should be directed against this risk factor.

A premature male baby fed on his mother's milk developed zinc deficiency and a skin disorder inseparable from acrodermatitis enteropathica. Following zinc therapy the skin lesions healed. Later the treatment was withheld and no recurrence was seen during 30 months' observation. The boy's zinc deficiency was thought to be due to a high requirement secondary to rapid growth, to poor zinc supply in food and, possibly, to inefficient zinc absorbtion.