A half-sided, single-blind, comparative study of a new modified formulation of 1% hydrocortisone/10% urea and 0.1% betamethasone valerate cream in the treatment of dry eczema showed that the two products were equally effective at the end of 1, 2 and 3 weeks of treatment in terms of efficacy and speed of action. No statistically significant differences could be detected between either preparation in any of the trial's measures (i.e. overall severity score, dryness/scaling, erythema, papules, itching, excoriation or lichenification) at any of the weekly assessments. The incidence of side-effects was the same with both treatments and patients' preference was equally divided between the two creams.
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