1 Steroid Cream For Eczema

How Should I Use Triamcinolone Topical

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Triamcinolone topical cream, lotion, ointment, or spray is for use only on the skin. Triamcinolone dental paste is applied directly onto an ulcer inside the mouth and left in place.

Do not swallow triamcinolone topical.

Wash your hands before and after using triamcinolone topical, unless you are using this medicine to treat the skin on your hands.

Apply a thin layer of medicine to the affected skin. Do not apply this medicine over a large area of skin unless your doctor has told you to.

Do not cover the treated skin area with a bandage or other covering unless your doctor tells you to. Covering treated areas can increase the amount of medicine absorbed through your skin and may cause harmful effects.

If you are treating the diaper area, do not use plastic pants or tight-fitting diapers.

To use the dental paste, press a small dab onto the mouth ulcer but do not rub in the medicine. The dab will form a thin film that should be left in place for several hours. Triamcinolone dental paste is usually applied at bedtime and/or after meals. Follow your doctors instructions.

You should stop using this medicine once your symptoms are controlled.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Steroid Creams Can Help With Skin Inflammation But Are Not A Cure

Dear Mayo Clinic:

Is it true that using steroid creams can thin the skin to the point that the skin is damaged? I have never heard of this and have used hydrocortisone and others for skin irritations on my five-year-old son for nearly two years. How much is too much?

Answer:If you have to use hydrocortisone on your son for longer than two weeks at a time without improvement, you should have him evaluated by a dermatologist.

Typically, steroid creams are used to reduce skin inflammation caused by conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. They are the cornerstone and first-line treatment of these and many other skin diseases. Steroid creams have been used for the past 50 years, but are not a cure because they have no effect on the underlying cause of inflammation. They can, however, be very effective in helping to control skin flare-ups and relieve symptoms, such as itching and irritation. Also, they help reduce the likelihood of infection that may occur as a result of scratching and trauma to the skin.

Commonly used topical steroids include hydrocortisone, triamcinolone, fluocinonide, and clobetasol. They work by preventing cells from producing inflammation-causing chemicals that are released in response to a variety of different triggers.

In your son’s case, a dermatologist may want to perform a skin biopsy or recommend different topical steroids or other anti-inflammatory topical medications.

Matthew Hall, M.D., Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla.

When And How Are Topical Steroids Used

As a rule, a course of topical steroid is used when one or more patches of eczema flare up. The aim of treatment is to clear the flare-up and then to stop the steroid treatment.

It is common practice to use the lowest-strength topical steroid which clears the flare-up. So, for example, hydrocortisone 1% is often used, especially when treating children. This often works well. If there is no improvement after 3-7 days, a stronger topical steroid is usually then prescribed. For severe flare-ups a very strong topical steroid may be prescribed from the outset.

Sometimes two or more preparations of different strengths are used at the same time. For example, a mild steroid for the face and a moderately strong steroid for eczema on the thicker skin of the arms or legs. A very strong topical steroid is often needed for eczema on the palms and soles of the feet of adults because these areas have thick skin.

You should use topical steroids until the flare-up has completely gone and then stop using them. In many cases, a course of treatment for 7-14 days is enough to clear a flare-up of eczema. In some cases, a longer course is needed.

Many people with eczema require a course of topical steroids every now and then to clear a flare-up. The frequency of flare-ups and the number of times a course of topical steroids is needed vary greatly from person to person.

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Topical Steroids For Infant Eczema: Pros And Cons

• Pin

Topical steroids cause a bit of worry and confusion for parents. The choice to use them or not has caused arguments between the most understanding of couples. I have gone back and forth myself on whether to use a prescription steroid cream for eczema on my son.

Eli was prescribed hydrocortisone, a common corticosteroid cream when he was around four months old. It was not an easy choice to use the topical steroid cream on his face.

Reluctantly, I used them, but I wanted to stop using them when he didnt show immediate signs of improvement. I want Eli to be itch free and happy, but I would never want to cause him unnecessary harm.

To learn more about his journey read my previous article.

The choice is ultimately yours, but some information about what you are getting into can help. Remember you are not wrong when you are doing the best for your kids. People are going to judge you no matter what you chose so to Hades with them.

How Should I Store Triamcinolone Cream

Triamcinolone cream should be stored at room temperature away from light.

General information about triamcinolone cream:

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes that are not in the patient leaflet. Do not use triamcinolone cream for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give triamcinolone cream to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It could harm them.

This page summarizes the most important information about triamcinolone cream. If you would like more information about triamcinolone cream talk with your doctor. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about triamcinolone cream that is written for health professionals.

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Which Topical Steroid Is Most Suitable

The choice of topical steroid will depend on the persons age, how severe the is, and which area of the body is affected. Low-potency and moderate-potency corticosteroids are usually enough to keep eczema at bay. Generally speaking,

• topical corticosteroids of low to moderate potency are particularly suitable for the treatment of in areas where the skin is sensitive and thin. These include the face, the back of the knees, the insides of the elbows, the groin area and the armpits.
• High-potency and ultra-high-potency corticosteroids are used for the treatment of severe on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, or for the treatment of eczema on very thick skin.
• High-potency and ultra-high-potency corticosteroids shouldnt be used on rashes that cover a large area of skin.
• Very sensitive areas such as your neck or genitals should only be treated with low-potency corticosteroids.

It is also possible to switch between products of different strengths. For example, some doctors recommend starting treatment with a high-potency corticosteroid in order to get the flare-up under control as quickly as possible, and then switching to a weaker corticosteroid after a few days. Others prefer to start with a low-potency corticosteroid and only change to a stronger one if the first medication doesnt work well enough. Its best to talk with your doctor about your preferred strategy.

Why Are Steroid Creams Called Topical Corticosteroids

Topical corticosteroids are steroids that are applied directly to the body through the skin, eyes, nose, mouth or ears. They include topical steroid creams, ointments, suppositories, gels, sprays, lotions and drops.

Steroid creams are often used to treat inflammation, irritation and itching caused by skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

Read on to discover which conditions your steroid cream or ointment treats, how long it takes to work and its possible side effects.

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What Are The Side Effects Of Steroid Creams For Eczema

As with any medical treatment, there may be side effects to using steroid creams. Side effects can be local, affecting a specific spot on the body, or systemic, affecting the entire body. Side effects will depend on the strength of the steroid and where its used.

Systemic reactions are rare because the skin doesnt usually absorb enough medication to cause a significant reaction however, they can happen. If side effects do occur, they are often related to topical steroid use over a longer period of time and on areas of the body where the skin is thinner, such as on the face. Skin also thins as you get older.

Local side effects of steroid cream may include:

• allergic reaction

What Are The Side

Most people who use topical steroids have no side-effects, or very few. How likely you are to have side-effects depends on how long you use the medicine for, how much is used or applied and how strong the steroid is.

It is not possible to list all the side-effects here. However, listed below are some of the more common and important ones. For a full list of side-effects see the leaflet that comes with your medicine.

• Creams and ointments – burning and stinging may occur in the first two days but usually get better after this. Other side-effects that have been reported include:
• Thinning of the skin.
• Rosacea.
• Hair growth at the site of application.

The more serious of these would normally only affect you if you use a strong or very strong steroid cream or ointment for a long time.

• Nose sprays and drops – dryness and irritation of the nose, as well as nosebleeds, have been reported. You may have to stop your nasal spray for a while if any of these occur. Other side-effects include reddening of the skin, rash, itching, and headache. Some people have reported that their sense of smell and taste is disturbed after using a nasal steroid.
• Eye drops – increased pressure inside the eye, cataracts, and blurred vision have been reported. Blurred vision clears very quickly after using an eye drop. People using steroid eye drops are also more likely to have eye infections and inflammation.

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When Should Topical Steroids Be Used

Topical steroids are mostly prescribed to treat eczema flares. You will usually be instructed to apply topical steroid for short bursts of treatment, and then stop or step down use when the eczema flare settles. If you are prescribed a milder steroid you will usually be told to stop after a burst of treatment, but if you are prescribed a stronger steroid, you may be instructed to step down back to lower potency preparations as your eczema flare settles.

Sometimes people with more severe eczema whose eczema flares very frequently are prescribed topical steroids to apply on two consecutive days a week on the areas where their eczema usually flares. This is known as weekend therapy and can help to prevent the almost continuous flare cycle, meaning that in the long run less topical steroid would be needed to control the eczema than if each flare were treated as it occurred.

What Types Of Emollients Are There

There are many types and brands of emollients, ranging from runny lotions to thick ointments. The difference between lotions, creams and ointments is the proportion of oil to water. The lipid content is lowest in lotions, intermediate in creams and highest in ointments. The higher the lipid content, the greasier and stickier it feels and the shinier it looks on the skin. As a general rule, the higher the lipid content , the better and longer it works but the messier it is to use.

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Why Do I Need To Use A Cortisone Cream For My Eczema

Eczema is a chronic condition. That means it is not curable and has to be controlled. It is a condition where the skin is constantly inflamed. For over 50 years, topical steroids have been known to be highly effective in controlling this inflammation. There is no other medication that works as well or as efficiently. One of the main functions of skin is to maintain a barrier to the outside world. In eczema the barrier is damaged. Steroids rapidly repair the damaged skin barrier without irritating the skin.

Ners On Opposite Sides Of The Argument

Using a prescripton steroid creams is a devisive topic.

If you and your partner are not on the same page try talking it out with your doctor. Try to get an understanding of how steroids work. Let your doctor explain why they have prescribed the medicine and then you can try to reach a compromise about use.

Take a realistic look at how severe the eczema is and how long it can take to get through the current flare-up.

Try to understand it can be difficult to compromise when you are passionate about what is best for your child. Remember that your partner feels just as passionately about your child as you do.

Try to treat this as a problem you both have to tackle with no wrong or right answer.

Create a plan for what to do with steroids and what to do without steroids. Begin one plan and if its not working change the plan.

When you are figuring out what works for your child the plan will change many times. Be honest about what you can handle and about what your child can handle.

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Worrying About The Cons

Now we will go into the cons because its what is on everyones mind. So much so, that the term steroid phobia was coined, because some people are so scared of the side effects they wont even consider them. Stop worrying and you will have done what no parent has ever been able to do.

If you cant stop worrying, try the technique of considering what is the worst that could truly happen. Then let it go and ask yourself: how likely is it this will happen? Then think of the pros. How do you feel after youve considered all options. You should have your answer.

If you do not have your answer, go with your gut. Still no answer, go with your partners gut. No partner, go with your doctor or another teammates advice. No advice, however, will be better than your parental instinct.

Different Types Of Steroid Creams And Their Strengths

There are many different types and strengths of topical corticosteroids.

Which type of steroid cream you choose to treat your eczema or other skin conditions will depend on the severity of your symptoms and whereabouts on the body the affected area is located.

Medical professionals often talk about the potency of topical steroids how strong they are. This can vary from mild to very potent.

Below are the most common topical creams, which weve grouped into strengths starting with the weakest preparations:

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Creams Ointments And Lotions

Whenever you use an emollient, apply it liberally to the affected area of skin. Emollients should be applied by smoothing them into the skin along the line of hair growth, rather than rubbing them in. You cannot overdose, as emollients do not contain active medicines which pass through the skin. If you wash, or have a bath or shower, apply an emollient to washed areas as soon as possible afterwards in addition to any other times that you use emollients. Also, apply after swimming.

Many people mix and match different emollients to suit their needs and daily routine. For example:

• Many people use a thick ointment as a soap substitute, as normal soap tends to dry the skin.
• Some people use an ointment at bedtime for the night but prefer a less messy cream during the day.
• Some people use an ointment on some areas of the body which are particularly dry and use a cream on the rest of the body.
• Some people use an ointment when their skin is particularly dry but switch to a cream when their skin is not too bad.

Getting The Dose Right

The amount of topical steroid that you should apply is commonly measured by fingertip units . One FTU is the amount of topical steroid that is squeezed out from a standard tube along an adult’s fingertip. A fingertip is from the very end of the finger to the first crease in the finger.

One FTU is enough to treat an area of skin twice the size of the flat of an adult’s hand with the fingers together.

Two FTUs are about the same as 1 g of topical steroid. For example, say you treat an area of skin the size of eight adult hands. You will need four FTUs for each dose.

The following are further examples:

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Using Emollients And Topical Steroids Together

Most people with eczema will also be prescribed a topical steroid to use when eczema flares up. Topical steroids are very different to emollients and should be used and applied in a different way. See the separate leaflet called Topical Steroids for Eczema for more details. When using the two treatments, apply the emollient first. Wait 10-15 minutes after applying an emollient before applying a topical steroid. That is, the emollient should be allowed to absorb before a topical steroid is applied. The skin should be moist or slightly tacky but not slippery, when applying the steroid.