From the Guidelines
Enstilar foam should be applied once daily to affected areas of the skin for up to 4 weeks, as this frequency has been shown to be effective in treating plaque psoriasis in adults, with significant results seen by 4 weeks 1.
Key Considerations
- The medication contains calcipotriene (a vitamin D analog) and betamethasone dipropionate (a corticosteroid) to treat plaque psoriasis in adults.
- When applying, shake the can well, spray the foam onto your fingertips, and gently rub it onto the affected skin areas.
- Do not apply more than 60 grams per week, and avoid using it on the face, groin, or under the arms.
- Treatment should be reassessed after 4 weeks, as prolonged use of topical corticosteroids can lead to skin thinning and other side effects.
Mechanism of Action
- Enstilar works by reducing inflammation and normalizing skin cell production, which helps clear psoriasis plaques.
- The combination of calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate has been shown to be more effective than either agent alone in treating psoriasis 1.
Important Safety Information
- Ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation can decrease the concentration of calcipotriene on the skin, and thick layers of calcipotriene can block ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation 1.
- Vitamin D analogues can be used in conjunction with phototherapy, but should be applied after the phototherapy treatment to avoid inactivation by UVA and blocking UVB radiation 1.
From the Research
Enstilar Frequency
- The frequency of Enstilar, a calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate foam, is once-daily, as indicated for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis in adults 2.
- Treatment with calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate foam for 4 weeks resulted in greater proportions of patients achieving treatment success compared to other treatments 2.
- The once-daily regimen of the fixed combination treatment is most appreciated by patients, in both active disease and recurrency 3.
Treatment Duration
- Treatment with calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate foam for 4 weeks resulted in significantly lower modified psoriasis area and severity index scores and greater improvements from baseline to week 4 in itch-related sleep loss and health-related quality of life than its comparators 2.
- Repeated courses of treatment with the fixed combination for up to one year did not produce systemic effects 3.
Formulations
- Various formulations of calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate, including ointment, gel, suspension, foam, and cream, are available for the treatment of plaque psoriasis 4, 5.
- The cream based on the PAD (Polyaphron Dispersion) technology is another formulation of this combination drug, expanding the therapeutic options for patients with psoriasis 5.