Thirty-three patients with acute or subacute eczematous dermatitis were treated for two weeks in a double-blind, parallel-group study to compare the efficacy and cosmetic acceptability of 0.1 percent amcinonide cream and 0.1 percent halcinonide cream. Patients in both treatment groups showed significant (p less than 0.05) improvement from baseline for most signs and symptoms at the three evaluation times (days 3, 7, and 14). Comparisons between groups showed no significant differences at any evaluation except at day 14, when the amicinonide-treated patients had significantly (p = 0.04) less edema. The physician's evaluations were not significantly different except at day 7, when the halcinonide patients showed significantly (p = 0.04) more overall improvement. The patients' overall evaluations were not significantly different at any time. In general, both creams were cosmetically acceptable. At day 3, seven amcinonide patients noted skin tightening compared to one halcinonide patient; four halcinonide patients (as well as two at day 7 and one at day 14) reported stinging compared to only one amcinonide patient. In addition, two halcinonide patients reported a burning sensation at one or more evaluations compared to no such reports from amcinonide patients. One other side effect, a metallic taste in the mouth, occurred in a halcinonide-treated patient.