treatment
Steroid ladder for eczema
Health care professionals use a steroid ladder for prescribing creams to patients, often starting with the mildest possible steroid before moving on to the next one up the ladder.
Topical steroids reduce inflammation on the skin, have immunosuppressive properties and vasoconstrictive properties. Hydrocortisone is mainly used in children and on the face. On the body your doctor may advise using the 1% and on the face to use 0.5%. In adults, your doctor may start from moderate strength and work upwards but it all depends on the severity of the skin. An example of steroid creams and their potency are detailed below.
What can you find here?
Mild and moderate steroids
Hydrocortisone 1% is a mild steroid and can be bought over the counter from the local pharmacy. An example of a moderate steroid is Eumovate (Clobetasone B 0.05%). It should be noted that these should not be used on the eyelids.
Potent steroids
Betnovate (0.1%) is an example of a potent steroid. These are very strong prescription medications and should not be used on the eyelids, face, groin, armpits, genitals or in children without expert opinion.
Very potent steroids
The top of the ladder, very potent steroids such as Dermovate (Clobetasol P 0.05%). Like the previous level, these should not be used on the eyelids, face, groin, armpits, genitals or in children.
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