Do you know what is a corticosteroid, how strong are they, and how to recognise them?
Do you know what is a corticosteroid, how strong are they, and how to recognise them?
I'm sure many of us who had eczema before in our lifetime had been to a doctor who prescribed a cream or an ointment, with or without your knowledge that it was a topical steroid. Some came in its original packaging with all the needed labels while some doctors prescribed self compounded cream that may consist of topical steroid and antibiotics, filled in a small white container, with no labels.
Commonly known as steroids, these topical steroids's correct name is corticosteroid and they are very different from the steroids that you've heard was injected into bodybuilders which are called anabolic steroids.
Anabolic steroids are either taken orally or by injection that influence the body's hormonal system to produce extra testosterone. The goal of taking anabolic steroids is to increase muscle mass. Anabolic refers to this muscle-building capability.
Anabolic steroids should not be confused with corticosteroids, which are used routinely as anti-inflammatory medications to help treat illnesses in which inflammation is part of the disease process.
You may want to know the side effects of corticosteroids as normally doctors do not tell you about them.
- Weight Gain (Steroids affect your metabolism and how your body deposits fat.)
- Insomnia and broken sleep (Steroids may impair your ability to fall asleep, especially when they are applied in larger dosage.)
- Mood changes (Steroids, especially in doses over 30 milligrams per day, can affect your mood. )
- Fluid retention and elevated blood pressure (Because cortisone is involved in regulating the body's balance of water, sodium, and other electrolytes, using these drugs can promote fluid retention and sometimes cause or worsen high blood pressure.)
- Elevated blood sugar (Since cortisone is involved in maintaining normal levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood, long-term use may lead to elevated blood sugar or even diabetes.)
- Abnormal behavior of skin (skin loses its natural defense mechanism and it is more prone to infections as well as reduced ability to heal.)
- Feel cold all the time (due to weak skin barrier)
If your doctor has prescribed you with topical steroids and you want to know how potent they are, you may refer to the chart below. You may use the strength as a gauge to determine the possibility of a Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW).
If you are worried about TSW, you may want to know the potency and the duration of the application period. While a concrete number is hard to obtain, it is safe to say that the longer the period of application and the more potent strength of the topical steroid leads to more frequency.
| Potent – Brand Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Clobex Lotion/Spray/Shampoo, 0.05% | Clobetasol propionate |
| Cordran Tape, 0.05% | Flurandrenolide |
| Cormax Cream/Solution, 0.05% | Clobetasol propionate |
| Diprolene Ointment, 0.05% | Betamethasone dipropionate |
| Lexette Foam, 0.05% | Halobetasol propionate |
| Olux E Foam, 0.05% | Clobetasol propionate |
| Olux Foam, 0.05% | Clobetasol propionate |
| Psorcon Ointment, 0.05% | Diflorasone diacetate |
| Psorcon E Ointment, 0.05% | Diflorasone diacetate |
| Temovate Cream/Ointment/Solution, 0.05% | Clobetasol propionate |
| Topicort Topical Spray, 0.25% | Desoximetasone |
| Ultravate Cream/Ointment, 0.05% | Halobetasol propionate |
| Ultravate Lotion, 0.05% | Halobetasol propionate |
| Wynzora Cream, 0.005%/0.064% | Calcipotriene and Betamethasone dipropionate |
| Vanos Cream, 0.1% | Fluocinonide |
| Potent to Superpotent – Brand Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Bryhali Lotion, 0.01% | Halobetasol propionate |
| Doubrii Lotion, 0.01%/0.045% | Halobetasol propionate/tazarotene |
| Potent – Brand Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Diprolene Cream AF, 0.05% | Betamethasone dipropionate |
| Elocon Ointment, 0.1% | Mometasone furoate |
| Florone Ointment, 0.05% | Diflorasone diacetate |
| Halog Ointment/Cream, 0.1% | Halcinonide |
| Lidex Cream/Gel/Ointment, 0.05% | Fluocinonide |
| Psorcon Cream, 0.05% | Diflorasone diacetate |
| Topicort Cream/Ointment, 0.25% | Desoximetasone |
| Topicort Gel, 0.05% | Desoximetasone |
| Upper Mid-Strength – Brand Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Cutivate Ointment, 0.005% | Fluticasone propionate |
| Lidex-E Cream, 0.05% | Fluocinonide |
| Luxiq Foam, 0.12% | Betamethasone valerate |
| Mid-Strength – Brand Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Cordran Ointment, 0.05% | Flurandrenolide |
| Elocon Cream, 0.1% | Mometasone furoate |
| Kenalog Cream/Spray, 0.1% | Triamcinolone acetonide |
| Synalar Ointment, 0.03% | Fluocinolone acetonide |
| Topicort LP Cream, 0.05% | Desoximetasone |
| Topicort LP Ointment, 0.05% | Desoximetasone |
| Westcort Ointment, 0.2% | Hydrocortisone valerate |
| Lower Mid-Strength – Brand Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Capex Shampoo, 0.01% | Fluocinolone acetonide |
| Cordran Cream/Lotion/Tape, 0.05% | Flurandrenolide |
| Cutivate Cream/Lotion, 0.05% | Fluticasone propionate |
| DermAtop Cream, 0.1% | Prednicarbate |
| DesOwen Lotion, 0.05% | Desonide |
| Locoid Cream/Lotion/Ointment/Solution, 0.1% | Hydrocortisone |
| Pandel Cream, 0.1% | Hydrocortisone |
| Synalar Cream, 0.03%/0.01% | Fluocinolone acetonide |
| Westcort Cream, 0.2% | Hydrocortisone valerate |
| Mild – Brand Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Aclovate Cream/Ointment, 0.05% | Alclometasone dipropionate |
| Derma-Smoothe/FS Oil, 0.01% | Fluocinolone acetonide |
| Desonate Gel, 0.05% | Desonide |
| Synalar Cream/Solution, 0.01% | Fluocinolone acetonide |
| Verdeso Foam, 0.05% | Desonide |
| Least Potent – Brand Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Cetacort Lotion, 0.5%/1% | Hydrocortisone |
| Cortaid Cream/Spray/Ointment | Hydrocortisone |
| Hytone Cream/Lotion, 1%/2.5% | Hydrocortisone |
| Micort-HC Cream, 2%/2.5% | Hydrocortisone |
| Nutracort Lotion, 1%/2.5% | Hydrocortisone |
| Synacort Cream, 1%/2.5% | Hydrocortisone |
Steroids and TSW is not an easy subject to educate but we will write a blog of this in the near future, so do look out for it by signing up for our newsletter.