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Notes: Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of treatment of plaque-type psoriasis with a moderate and a strong corticosteroid under continuous hydrocolloid occlusion, with weekly change of dressing, compared with treatment with the same corticosteroids alone, and the acceptance by the patients of his type of treatment.Setting Dermatological Departments of two University Hospitals and four General Hospitals.Design Open parallel study divided in two parts depending on the two different corticosteroid preparations applied. Each part was an intrasubject half-side study with left-right comparison.Subjects Fifty five patients with symmetrical, stable psoriasis plaques on elbows or knees.Methods Twenty nine patients were treated with clobetason butyrate cream (EmovatcR) twice daily as well as once weekly covered with a hydrocolloid dressing (ContreetR) for four weeks. Twenty six patients were treated with clobetasol propionate cream (DermovateR) twice daily as well as once weekly covered by the hydrocolloid dressing for 2 weeks. Induration, erythema and scaling were assessed using a four-point scale. Plaque size was measured by multiplying the largest and the smallest diameter. Healing was defined as score 0 for scaling and induration and score 0 or 1 for erythema. Acceptance was evaluated by questions related to the wearing of the dressings: comfort of wearing, pain, itching, adhesiveness and sticking to clothing, and the performance of daily activities.Statistics analysis Sign test for the score values, parametric paired Student t-test for plaque size, chi-square test for healing.Results With occlusion a statistically significant increased reduction of severity was obtained compared to treatment without occlusion; this effect was more pronounced with the application of the strong corticosteroid. The questions related to the wearing of the dressing were answered positively by the majority of the patients.Conclusions Treatment of psoriasis plaques with, especially strong, corticosteroid creams under occlusion with a hydrocolloid dressing with a high adherence is rapid and effective. The acceptance of this type of treatment by the patients is high, and it permits normal daily activities.