Corticosteroid creams
The treatment of eczema is a step-wise process. Other treatments are add-on treatments to emollients. Treatment is stepped up and down depending on the severity of the eczema. All other treatments are used in addition to emollients and include -:
Mild potency topical corticosteroid creams
These are used in small amounts as a spot treatment for a limited period on more active patches of eczema. Mild potency is commonly used intermittently in mild eczema.
Mild potency topical corticosteroid creams |
Hydrocortisone 0.1-2.5% - Dioderm, Efcortelan, Mildison |
Mild with antimicrobials – Canesten HC, Daktacort, Fucidin H, Econocort, Nystaform HC, Timodine, Vioform-Hydrocortisone. |
Moderate potency topical corticosteroid creams
These are used in small amounts as a spot treatment for limited period (3-5 days) on more severe patches of eczema. They are likely to be used in moderate or severe eczema.
Moderate potency topical corticosteroid creams |
Betnovate-RD, Eumovate, Haelan, Modrasone, Synalar 1 in 4 dilution, Synalar 1 in 10 dilution, Ultralanum Plain, |
Moderate with antimicrobials – Trimovate |
Potent and Very potent topical corticosteroid creams
These tend only to be used in severe eczema.
Potent topical corticosteroid creams |
Betamethasone valerate 0.1% - Betacap, Bettamousse, Betnovate, Diprosone. Beclometasone dipropionate – Propaderm. Hydrocortisone butyrate – Locoid, Locoid crelo, Metosyn, Nerisone, Synalar Others – Metosyn, Halciderm topical, Elocon, Cutivate. |
Potent with antimicrobials – Aureocort, Betnovate-C, Betnovate-N, FuciBET, Locoid C, Lotriderm, Synalar C, Synalar N, Tri-Adcortyl, Acorvio Plus. |
Potent with salicylic acid – Diprosalic. |
Very potent topical corticosteroid creams |
Dermovate, Nerisone Forte. |
Topical calcineurin inhibitor cream or ointment
These are used in small amounts as a spot treatment for a limited period on more severe patches of eczema. Tacrolimus ointment (protopic) is the name of one sort of commonly used topical calcineurin inhibitor.
Pimecrolimus cream (Elidel) is an alternative. It tends to be used when steroid creams cannot be used.
