Clobetasol: a steroid medicine to treat swelling and itching - NHS.

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Back to Medicines A to Z. Clobetasol propionate is a medicine that's used on the skin to treat swelling, itching and irritation. It can help with skin problems such as:. Clobetasol is available on prescription only. There is also a cream and ointment called clobetasone which sounds similar to clobetasol. Clobetasone is much milder and you can buy it from pharmacies or supermarkets.

Clobetasol may not be suitable for some people. Tell a pharmacist or doctor before taking it if you:. Always follow the instructions from a pharmacist, doctor or leaflet in the medicine packet. Most people only need to use clobetasol 1 or 2 times a day for 1 week. A doctor may suggest that you use it for longer than 1 week. If you use it 2 times a day, try to leave a gap of 8 to 12 hours after using it.

If it's been prescribed for your child under 12 years of age, do not use it on them for longer than 5 days unless the doctor has seen them again. Clobetasol comes in a strength of 0.

Clobetasol is available as a cream and ointment and also a scalp treatment and shampoo. Sometimes, the amount of cream or ointment you're told to use is measured in fingertip units. This is the amount of cream or ointment you can squeeze onto your fingertip the top of your finger down to the first bend in your finger.

As a general rule, a fingertip unit of cream should be enough to treat an area of skin that is double the size of the palm of your hand. For babies and children, the right amount of cream depends on their age. A doctor or pharmacist can advise you. Do not use clobetasol at the same time as other creams or ointments such as a moisturiser.

Wait at least 30 minutes between using clobetasol and any other product. If you need to use a dressing like a bandage or plaster, wait at least 10 minutes after putting clobetasol on. Do not cover the cream or ointment with dressings or bandages if you're treating a child.

Skin creams can dry onto your clothes and bedding. This makes them more likely to catch fire. Avoid naked flames. Use your usual shampoo after the clobetasol shampoo if you need to wash your hair. Do not use more clobetasol shampoo. If you forget to use clobetasol, do not worry. Use it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until it's within a few hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose and follow your normal routine.

Some people feel burning or stinging for a few minutes when they put clobetasol cream on their skin. This stops happening after you've been using it for a few days. Ask your doctor if you need to carry a steroid emergency card. Serious side effects are rare. They happen to 1 in 10, people who use clobetasol.

You're more likely to have a serious side effect if you use clobetasol on a large area of skin for a long time. Using clobetasol for a long time can make your skin thinner or cause stretch marks. Stretch marks are likely to be permanent, but they usually fade over time. Clobetasol cream contains cetostearyl alcohol, which may cause a skin reaction in the area you are treating, and chlorocresol, which may cause an allergic reaction. In very rare cases, using clobetasol for a long time can slow down the normal growth of children and teenagers.

This is because it is a steroid. Your child's doctor will monitor their height and weight carefully while they are using this medicine.

This way, any issues with their growth can be spotted quickly and their treatment changed if needed. Talk to a doctor if you're worried.

They will be able to explain the benefits and risks of your child using clobetasol. In rare cases, clobetasol can cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis. These are not all the side effects of clobetasol. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

There's not enough research into clobetasol to know if it's safe to use in pregnancy. If you're pregnant, or trying for a baby, talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of using clobetasol. For more information about using clobetasol during pregnancy, read this leaflet about steroid creams and ointments on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy BUMPs.

If you are using clobetasol cream or ointment on your breasts, wash off any medicine from your breasts, then wash your hands before feeding your baby. It's usually better to use cream rather than ointment when breastfeeding, as it's easier to wash off. Tell a pharmacist or doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding. It's very unlikely that other medicines will interfere with the way clobetasol works.

This applies to prescription medicines as well as ones you buy from a pharmacy or shop. These medicines can increase the levels of clobetasol in your body and increase the chances of side effects. There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements while using clobetasol. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.

Clobetasol is a corticosteroid steroid which means it helps to reduce inflammation in the skin. Skin gets inflamed when an allergic reaction or irritation causes various chemicals to be released in the skin. These make blood vessels widen and the irritated skin becomes red, swollen, itchy and painful.

Clobetasol works inside the skin cells to stop the release of these chemicals. This reduces the swelling, redness and itching. Your skin should start to get better after you've used clobetasol for a few days. You may need to use it for up to 4 weeks. For contact dermatitis you'll probably only need to use clobetasol for up to 1 week. For long-term skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis you may need to use the medicine for longer under the supervision of a doctor. To reduce the risk of side effects a doctor may recommend that you only use clobetasol for a few weeks at a time.

Talk to a doctor if your skin or scalp problem gets worse or does not improve within 2 to 4 weeks. Take a child under 12 years old back to the doctor if they aren't better after using clobetasol for 5 days.

Do not use clobetasol for more than 4 weeks without talking to a doctor. If you need treatment for a long time, a doctor may decide you need to use a milder cream or ointment. If you have been using clobetasol for a long time, you may need to gradually reduce the amount you use and how often before stopping it completely. This reduces the chance of your symptoms coming back.

Talk to a doctor if you want to stop treatment after using clobetasol for a long time. The skin on your face is delicate and thins easily. If clobetasol damages it by making it thinner, it's very noticeable and you may not be able to make it better. If you do use it on your face, do not cover that area with a dressing or bandage. Some common skin problems that affect the face, such as impetigorosacea and acnecan be made worse by clobetasol.

As a general rule, once your skin has settled down a doctor will recommend that you stop using this medicine. If you have been using clobetasol for a long time a doctor may advise you to gradually reduce the amount you use before stopping completely.

You can do this by using less clobetasol each time or by using it less often. Using clobetasol continuously for a long time can mean some of the medicine gets into your bloodstream. If this happens, there's a very small chance it can cause serious side effects.

If you feel your symptoms are getting worse after using clobetasol for 1 week, it's important to tell a doctor. Steroids like clobetasol reduce inflammation in the skin to help manage the symptoms of a condition. They do not cure the condition. When the treatment is stopped, skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis can flare up again. You can avoid this by gradually reducing the amount of clobetasol you apply, or how often you apply it. Do this over 1 to 2 weeks before stopping it completely.

But tell the doctor or nurse that you're using clobetasol so they can give the vaccine in an untreated area of skin. If you're using steroid medicines such as clobetasol, your adrenal glands may not make as much of some of the hormones your body needs such as cortisol known as the stress hormone. This is known as adrenal insufficiency. This card is the size of a credit card and fits in your wallet or purse. If you need any medical or dental treatment, or are having surgery or an invasive procedure, show your steroid emergency card to your doctor or dentist.

This is important so they know you're having steroid treatment and can give you extra steroids as needed.

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