Effect of topical corticosteroids on symptoms of clinical sunburn.

Topical corticosteroids have been advocated in the treatment of sunburn. This therapy was evaluated by means of a random, double-blind study in which subjects who had acquired acute natural sunburn served as their own controls. Subjects applied fluocinolone cream to an acutely exposed area of their body and the inert carrier base to a symmetrical, similarly exposed area twice a day for five days while avoiding further exposure. The subjects recorded by means of a rating scale the progression, at both sites, of redness, pain, blistering, swelling, and peeling. The natural course of mild to moderate sunburn to symptomatic resolution was observed to be about three to five days. There was no significant difference in response between the steroid-treated area and the inert-base-treated area.