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Topical steroids are medications such as creams, ointments, aerosols, gels and lotions that can be applied directly to the skin or scalp to treat various types of conditions. For instance alleviate redness, swelling and allergic reactions affecting the skin. This type of medications are also used for mosquito bites, irritation, rash, eczema and itching. Some steroids can be obtained over the counter without a prescription from a doctor and others require a prescription.
Topical steroids should not be confused with anabolic steroids, which are commonly used by to increase muscle mass.
Topical steroids are normally sold in the form of creams, solutions, lotions, powders, gels, ointments and aerosols and in different sizes. The topical steroid potency is denoted from high potency (class 1) to low potency (class 7), with class one been the strongest and class seven the weakest.
There are a variety of routes in which steroids can be used, for example topical steroids are those steroids that are required to be applied directly on the affected area unlike oral or parental steroids that are used to treat certain conditions systemically (those conditions require other routes of administration other than applying the medication directly to the affected area).
Below is a list of the most popular topical steroids, outlining their class indicating their potency, generic name/active ingredient and in brackets the brand name.
|
Class 1 |
Class 2 |
Class 3 |
Class 4 |
Class 5 |
Class 6 |
Class 7 |
|
Clobetasol propionate 0.05% (Dermovate) |
Desoximetasone 0.25% (Topicort) |
Mometasone furoate 0.1% (Elocon, Elocom ointment) |
Mometasone furoate 0.1% (Elocon cream, lotion) |
Fluticasone propionate 0.05% (Cortate, Cutivate cream) |
Alclometasone dipropionate 0.05% (Aclovate cream, ointment) |
Hydrocortisone 2.5% (Hydroval, Hyderm, Hytone cream, lotion, ointment) |
|
Amcinonide 0.05% (Cyclocort) |
Triamcinolone acetonide 0.5% (Kenalog, Aristocort cream) |
Fluocinolone acetonide 0.01-0.2% (Derma-Smooth, Synalar, Synemol, Fluonid) |
Fluocinolone acetonide 0.025% (Synalar, Synemol cream) |
Fluocinolone acetonide 0.01% (Capex shampoo, Dermasmooth) |
Hydrocortisone 1% (Many over-the-counter brands) |
They are often used for various conditions form redness, swelling to itching. Weaker topical steroids are often used for more sensitive areas in the body such as face, armpit, eyelids etc. while moderate topical steroids are used quite often for scabies, severe dermatitis, sclerosis and eczema and finally strong topical steroids are used for the treatment of psoriasis, severe atopic dermatitis, and nummular eczema etc.
To prevent a reduction in effectiveness (tachyphylaxis) of topical steroids, they are often required to be used on a week on and off routine, some doctors may require you to use it differently too. The use of topical steroids long term can lead to secondary infections with bacteria and fungus.
Some of this topical agents are mostly obtained with a prescription from a doctor while some can be obtained over the counter because they are weaker.
|
Brand |
Generic |
Prescription or over the counter |
|
Dermovate |
Clobetasol propionate 0.05% |
Prescription |
|
Topicort |
Desoximetasone 0.25% |
Prescription |
|
Cutivate cream |
Fluticasone propionate 0.05% |
Prescription |
|
Derma-Smooth, Synalar, Synemol cream |
Fluocinolone acetonide 0.025% |
Prescription |
|
Hytone, Cortate |
Hydrocortisone 1% |
OTC |
Some of the side effects involved with the use of topical steroids may include the following:
The use of any topical steroid agent is contraindicated in any one who is hypersensitive to any of the active ingredients or any ingredients used in the formulation.
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