In a multicenter controlled study carried out in Austria and Switzerland by 8 dermatologists in 208 patients with acute eczematous dermatoses, 0.05% halometasone cream proved to have significantly superior clinical efficacy than 0.05% betamethasone dipropionate cream (P much less than 0.05) showing an equal tolerability. Good to very good results were reported in 93% of the patients treated with halometasone and in 84% of those treated with betamethasone dipropionate creams (Diprosone, Diproderm). General tolerability of both treatments was good. Neither skin atrophy nor any systemic adverse effect, due to the transcutaneous absorption of the corticoids, were observed in this study.