Topical 0.03% atropine vs. 15% aluminum chloride in treating multiple eccrine hidrocystomas: A randomized single blind controlled study

• Main Authors: Amirhoushang Ehsani, Mostafa Mirshams, Maryam Akhyani, Pardis Noormohamadpour, Pedram Noormohamadpour
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2010-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Dermatology
• Subjects: Atropine; aluminum chloride; multiple eccrine hidrocystomas
• Online Access: http://www.e-ijd.org/article.asp?issn=0019-5154;year=2010;volume=55;issue=1;spage=47;epage=49;aulast=Amirhoushang

<b>Background:</b> Multiple eccrine hidrocystomas pose a significant treatment challenge due to their facial location and tendency to scar after traditional surgical and other destructive modalities. <b> Aims:</b> To compare two frequently used non-destructive therapeutic modalities. <b> Materials and Methods:</b> Thirty patients with multiple eccrine hidrocystomas were enrolled in the study. They used topical 0.03&#x0025; Atropine cream and 15&#x0025; AlCl₃ solution on left and right sides of their face randomly for 4 weeks. All the patients were visited before commencing the therapy as well as two and four weeks later by a dermatologist, blinded to the drugs and the number of lesions. <b> Results:</b> Twenty nine patients (25 females, four males) completed the study. The mean reduction in the number of lesions was significantly higher with Atropine cream in comparison with AlCl₃ solution, 10.2&#177;7.4 vs. 6.2&#177;5.3 (<i> P</i> &lt; 0.05). There were no recurrences after three months follow-up in both groups. <b> Conclusion:</b> It seems that both Atropine and AlCl₃ are useful therapies in eccrine hidrocytomas but the former might be more effective. We think that other randomized clinical trials with larger sample sizes are needed.