Cork Emergency Departments
What topical steroid formulations are available?
| Strength | Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient | Brand names |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | Hydrocortisone 1% | Hydrocortisone 1% cream (15g) |
| Moderate | Betamethasone valerate 0.025% | Betnovate RD® cream or ointment (100g) |
| Clobetasone butyrate 0.05% | Eumovate® cream or ointment (30g) | |
| Strong | Betamethasone valerate 0.1% | Betnovate® cream or ointment (30g or 100g) Betnovate Scalp Application® (30ml or 100ml) |
| Hydrocortisone butyrate 0.1% | Locoid® cream (30g or 100g) | |
| Mometasone furoate 0.1% | Elocon® cream or ointment (30g) Elocon Scalp Application® (30ml) |
|
| Very strong | Clobetasol propionate 0.1% | Dermovate® cream or ointment (30g or 100g) Dermovate Scalp Application® (50ml) |
How much topical steroid should be applied?
The fingertip unit (FTU) is used as a guide to estimate how much topical steroid should be used to treat a given body site. One fingertip unit is defined as the amount of steroid squeezed from a standard tube along an adult's fingertip (i.e. from the very end of the finger to the first crease of the finger).
The below tables assume the whole area is treated. If this is not the case, then the number of FTUs should be adjusted accordingly.
Fingertip units for children are measured on an adult finger and are used differently according to the age of the child, as per the below table:
| Site | Number of FTUs |
|---|---|
| Scalp | 3 |
| Face and neck | 2.5 |
| Front and back of one hand | 1 |
| One arm and hand | 4 |
| One leg and entire foot | 8 |
| Trunk front | 8 |
| Trunk back | 8 |
| Age | Entire face and neck | Entire arm and hand | Entire leg and foot | Entire front of chest and abdomen | Entire back including buttocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-12 months | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 1-2 years | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 3-5 years | 1.5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 |
| 6-10 years | 2 | 2.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 5 |
Should topical steroids be applied with moisturisers?
Moisturisers should not be applied at the same time as a topical steroid as they will dilute the strength of the steroid. When both a moisturiser and a topical steroid are to be used, the moisturiser should be applied 30 minutes before application of the topical steroid to enhance absorption.
Written By: Emer Lynch (Clinical Pharmacist); May 2022
Reviewed By: Regina Lee (Senior Clinical Pharmacist); Dr Rory O'Brien (PEM Consultant);
Approved By: Drugs and Therapeutics Committee; XXXXXXX
References: Topical Steroids St John's Institute of Dermatology, HPRA.
Published 03/11/2024.
If you are concerned, please contact the Emergency Department you first attended:
MUH (021)4271971
Mercy Injury Unit, Gurranabraher (021)4926900
CUH (021)4920200
LIU Mallow(022)58506
LIU Bantry(027)52900