CORTICOSTEROIDS Low Potency (Topical)
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
- Aclovate 1
- Acticort 100 7
- Aeroseb-Dex 4
- Aeroseb-HC 7
- Ala-Cort 7
- Ala-Scalp HP 7
- Allercort 7
- Alphaderm 7
- Bactine 7
- Beta-HC 7
- CaldeCORT Anti-Itch 8
- CaldeCORT Light 9
- Carmol-HC 9
- Cetacort 7
- Cloderm 2
- Cortaid 8
- Cort-Dome 7
- Cortef Feminine Itch 9
- Corticaine 9
- Cortifair 7
- Cortril 7
- Decaderm 4
- Decadron 4
- Decaspray 4
- Delacort 7
- Dermacort 7
- Dermarest DriCort 7
- DermiCort 7
- Dermtex HC 7
- DesOwen 3
- Epifoam 9
- FoilleCort 9
- Gly-Cort 7
- Gynecort 9
- Gynecort 10 9
- Hi-Cor 1.0 7
- Hi-Cor 2.5 7
- Hydro-Tex 7
- Hytone 7
- LactiCare-HC 7
- Lanacort 9
- Lanacort 10 9
- Lemoderm 7
- Maximum Strength Cortaid 7
- MyCort 7
- 9-1-1 9
- Nutracort 7
- Penecort 7
- Pentacort 7
- Pharma-Cort 9
- Rederm 7
- Rhulicort 9
- S-T Cort 7
- Synacort 7
- Texacort 7
- Tridesilon 3
In Canada?
- Barriere-HC 7
- Cortacet 9
- Cortate 7
- Cortef 8
- Corticreme 9
- Cortoderm 9
- Drenison-1/4 6
- Emo-Cort 7
- Emo-Cort Scalp Solution 7
- Hyderm 9
- Locacorten 5
- Novohydrocort 9
- Prevex HC 7
- Sarna HC 1.0% 7
- Sential 7
- Tridesilon 3
- Unicort 7
Other commonly used names are:
- Cortisol
- Fludroxycortide
- Flumetasone
Note: | For quick reference, the following low potency corticosteroids arenumbered to match the corresponding brand names. |
Category
- Anti-inflammatory, steroidal,topical
- Corticosteroid, topical
Description
Topical corticosteroids (kor-ti-ko-STER-oyds)are used to help relieve redness, swelling, itching, and discomfort of manyskin problems. These medicines are like cortisone. They belong to the generalfamily of medicines called steroids.
Most corticosteroids are available only with your doctor's prescription.Some strengths of hydrocortisone are available without a prescription. However,your doctor may have special instructions on the proper use for your medicalcondition.
Topical corticosteroids are available in the following dosage forms:
Topical- Alclometasone
- Cream (U.S.)
- Ointment (U.S.)
- Clocortolone
- Desonide
- Cream (U.S. and Canada)
- Lotion (U.S.)
- Ointment (U.S. and Canada)
- Dexamethasone
- Cream (U.S.)
- Gel (U.S.)
- Topical aerosol (U.S.)
- Flumethasone
- Cream (Canada)
- Ointment (Canada)
- Flurandrenolide
- Cream 0.0125% (Canada)
- Ointment 0.0125% (Canada)
- Hydrocortisone
- Cream (U.S. and Canada)
- Lotion (U.S. and Canada)
- Ointment (U.S. and Canada)
- Topical solution (U.S. and Canada)
- Hydrocortisone acetate
- Cream (U.S. and Canada)
- Topical aerosol foam (U.S.)
- Lotion (U.S.)
- Ointment (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it willdo. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For topical corticosteroids,the following should be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to corticosteroids. Also tell your health care professionalif you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,or dyes.
Pregnancy?When used properly, these medicines have not beenshown to cause problems in humans. Studies on birth defects have not beendone in humans. However, studies in animals have shown that topical corticosteroids,when applied to the skin in large amounts or used for a long time, could causebirth defects.
Breast-feeding?Topical corticosteroids have not been reportedto cause problems in nursing babies when used properly. However, corticosteroidsshould not be applied to the breasts just before nursing.
Children?Children and teenagers who must use this medicinefor a long time should be checked often by their doctor. Other, more potentcorticosteroids are absorbed through the skin and can affect growth or causeother unwanted effects. Topical corticosteroids also can be absorbed if theyare applied to large areas of skin. These effects are less likely to occurwith the use of the lower potency corticosteroids. However, before using thismedicine in children, you should discuss its use with your child's doctor.
Older adults?This medicine is not expected to cause differentside effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health careprofessional if you are using any other topical prescription or nonprescription(over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine that is to be applied to the same area ofthe skin.
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of topical corticosteroids. Make sure you tellyour doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus?Too much use of corticosteroidsmay cause a loss of control of diabetes by increasing blood and urine glucose.However, this is not likely to happen when topical corticosteroids are usedfor a short time
- Infection or sores at the place of treatment or
- Tuberculosis?Corticosteroids may make existing infections worseor cause new infections
- Skin conditions that cause thinning of skin with easy bruising?Corticosteroidsmay make thinning of the skin worse
Proper Use of This Medicine
Be very carefulnot to get this medicine in your eyes. Wash your hands after using your fingerto apply the medicine. If you accidentally get this medicine in your eyes,flush them with water.
Do not bandage or otherwise wrap the skin being treated unless directed to do so by your doctor.
If your doctor has ordered an occlusive dressing (airtight covering, suchas kitchen plastic wrap or a special patch) to be applied over this medicine,make sure you know how to apply it. Since occlusive dressings increase theamount of medicine absorbed through your skin and the possibility of sideeffects, use them only as directed. If you have any questions about this,check with your doctor.
For patients using the topical aerosol formof this medicine:
- This medicine usually comes with patient directions. Read them carefullybefore using this medicine.
- It is important to avoid breathing in the vapors from the spray orgetting them in your eyes. If you accidentally get this medicine in your eyes,flush them with water.
- Do not use near heat, near an open flame, or while smoking.
Do not use this medicine more often or for a longertime than your doctor ordered or than recommended on the package label.To do so may increase the chance of absorption through the skin and the chanceof side effects.
If this medicine has been prescribed for you, it is meant to treat a specificskin problem. Do not use it for other skin problems,and do not use nonprescription hydrocortisone for skin problems that are notlisted on the package label, without first checking with your doctor.Topical corticosteroids should not be used on many kinds of bacterial, viral,or fungal skin infections.
Dosing?The dose of topical corticosteroid will bedifferent for different patients and products. Followyour doctor's orders or the directions on the label.
Missed dose?If your doctor has ordered you to use this medicineon a regular schedule and you miss a dose, apply it as soon as possible. Butif it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and apply itat the next regularly scheduled time.
Storage?To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Keep the medicine from freezing.
- Do not puncture, break, or burn aerosol containers, even after theyare empty.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be surethat any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions While Using This Medicine
Check with your doctor if your symptoms do not improvewithin 1 week or if your condition gets worse.
Avoid using tight-fitting diapers or plastic pants on a child if this medicineis being used on the child's diaper area. Plastic pants and tight-fittingdiapers may increase the chance of absorption of the medicine through theskin and the chance of side effects.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects.Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they mayneed medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following sideeffects occur:
Less common or rare
Blood-containing blisters on skin; burning and itching of skin; increased skin sensitivity; lack of healing of skin condition; numbness in fingers; painful, red oritchy, pus-containing blisters in hair follicles; raised, dark red, wart-like spots on skin, especially when used on the face; skin infection; thinningof skin with easy bruising
Some side effects may occur that usually donot need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatmentas your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if anyof the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
Less common or rare?usually mild and transient
Burning, dryness, irritation, itching, or redness of skin; increased redness or scaling of skin sores; skin rash
When the gel,lotion, solution, or aerosol form of this medicine is applied, a mild, temporarystinging may be expected.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Ifyou notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Revised: 06/17/2002
