Beclometasone skin cream

Beclometasone cream and ointment are used to treat itching, swollen and irritated skin. They can help with conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.

Beclometasone (sometimes written as beclomethasone) is a type of medicine known as a steroid (also called a corticosteroid). This is not the same as an anabolic steroid.

When you have an allergic reaction or your skin is irritated, chemicals are released into the skin. Beclometasone cream stops these chemicals getting to your skin and also helps to reduce swelling, redness and itching.

It's stronger than some other steroid skin creams such as hydrocortisone.

Beclometasone skin cream is available on prescription only.

Beclometasone also comes as:

• beclometasone inhalers – for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• beclometasone nasal (nose) spray – for hay fever and cold-like symptoms caused by common allergies (rhinitis)
• beclometasone tablets – for ulcerative colitis

Beclometasone comes as a cream and ointment.

You'll usually use it once or twice a day. Use a thin layer on all the areas of your skin affected by the skin problem.

If you use it twice a day, try to leave a gap of 8 to 12 hours between doses.

The amount of cream or ointment you need to use is sometimes measured by how much you can squeeze onto the end of your finger. This is called a fingertip unit.

As a general rule, a fingertip unit of cream is enough to treat an area that's twice the size of the palm of your hand.

A fingertip unit of cream is the amount that fits on the end of your finger.

For babies and children, the right amount of cream depends on their age. A doctor or pharmacist can advise you.

When the skin starts to get better, you may be able to reduce the amount of cream or ointment you use.

1. Wash your hands and then squeeze out the right amount.
2. Spread the cream or ointment in a thin layer over the area of irritated skin.
3. Carefully smooth it into your skin in the direction that your hair grows.
4. Use the cream or ointment on all the irritated skin, not just the worst areas.
5. Be careful not to get the cream or ointment into broken skin or cuts.
6. Wash your hands afterwards (unless you're treating the skin on your hands).

Do not use beclometasone skin cream at the same time as any other creams or ointments, such as a moisturiser. Wait at least 10 minutes before using any other skin products after you put on beclometasone cream or ointment.

If you need to use a dressing, like a bandage or plaster, wait at least 10 minutes after putting on beclometasone.

If you're treating a child, do not cover the cream or ointment with dressings or bandages. Using a dressing or bandage can increase the chance of side effects.

Skin creams or ointments can dry onto your clothes and bedding. This makes them more likely to catch fire. Avoid naked flames and smoking.

Most people only need to use beclometasone cream or ointment for a short time, usually for as long as a doctor recommends it.

For long-term skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis, you may need to use the medicine for a few weeks, or sometimes longer.

If your skin condition is hard to control, your doctor may tell you to use beclometasone skin cream for up to 4 weeks.

Most people only need to use beclometasone skin cream for a short time. Use it for as long as your doctor has recommended. If your skin gets better sooner and you want to stop using it, check with your doctor first. They may tell you to use less of it gradually until you can stop using it.

If you stop using it too soon your condition may come back. If you have to restart treatment, this could increase how long you need to use it for and you're more likely to get side effects.

If you need treatment for a long time, your doctor may decide you need to use a milder cream or ointment.

If your doctor says you can use beclometasone on your face, then it's usually OK to use it for up to 5 days. Do not use it for longer than that unless your doctor tells you to.

Children can use beclometasone skin cream for up to 5 days.

If your skin gets worse or does not improve within 2 to 4 weeks (or 5 days for a child or when using it on your face), tell your doctor.

Once your skin gets better, your doctor may recommend using moisturisers to keep it from getting inflamed again.

Talk to your doctor before stopping treatment if you've been using beclometasone skin cream for a long time. They may tell you to gradually use less of it, and use it less often, before you stop completely. This reduces the chance of your symptoms coming back.

Using beclometasone skin cream for a long time can increase the risk of having a withdrawal reaction when you stop using it. You might have a burning feeling and redness, although this may be more difficult to see on brown or black skin. The reaction will feel different to the skin condition you've been using the cream for. It may cover a larger area than the area you were treating.

If you get a withdrawal reaction or your condition comes back within 2 weeks of stopping beclometasone skin cream, do not start using it again without checking with your doctor.

If you forget to use your cream or ointment, do not worry. Use it as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for you to apply it again. There should be a gap of 8 to 12 hours between doses if you use it twice a day.

In this case, skip the missed application and wait until you're due to apply it again.

Do not apply it 2 times to make up for a forgotten dose.

Using too much beclometasone is unlikely to harm you. But if you use too much on yourself, or a child, wash the area of affected skin carefully until all the cream has gone.

If you're worried, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.

Beclometasone skin cream is unlikely to cause any side effects if you follow the instructions.

Some people get a burning or stinging feeling for a few minutes when they put beclometasone on their skin. This stops happening after you've been using it for a few days.

If you get lighter or darker patches on your skin (this may be more difficult to see on brown or black skin), these are a sign of changes to the pigment in your skin. Speak to your doctor if this happens.

Speak to a doctor if your condition gets worse while you're using beclometasone skin cream, or comes back within 2 weeks of stopping treatment. Do not start using beclometasone again without speaking to a doctor.

Serious side effects are rare. You're more likely to have a serious side effect if you use beclometasone on a large area of skin for a long time.

Call your doctor or call 111 and stop using beclometasone now if:

• your skin becomes redder or swollen, or yellow fluid is weeping from your skin – these are signs of a new skin infection or an existing one getting worse
• you have a very upset stomach or you're being sick (vomiting), feel very tired, or very dizzy, or start to faint, get muscle weakness, mood changes, loss of appetite and weight loss – these can be signs of adrenal gland problems
• you're using beclometasone for psoriasis and you get raised bumps filled with pus under your skin
• you have any new problems with your eyesight after starting to use beclometasone

Serious allergic reaction

It happens rarely but it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to beclometasone.

Call 999 now if:

• your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
• you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
• your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
• your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• someone faints and cannot be woken up
• a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

Using beclometasone skin cream for a long time without stopping can mean some of the medicine gets into your blood. If this happens, there's a very small chance it can cause serious side effects, such as adrenal gland problems, high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia), or problems with your eyesight.

If you've been using beclometasone skin cream for a long time, your doctor may tell you to gradually reduce the amount you use before stopping completely.

If you've been using it for a long time, you may have a skin reaction within a few days or weeks after stopping treatment (topical steroid withdrawal reaction). You might have a burning feeling and redness, although this may be more difficult to see on brown or black skin. If this happens, ask your doctor for advice.

Children and teenagers

In very rare cases, using beclometasone skin cream for a long time can slow down the normal growth of children and teenagers.

Your child's doctor will monitor their height and weight carefully for as long as they're using this medicine. This will help them spot any slowing down of your child's growth and change their treatment if needed.

Talk to your doctor if you're worried. They'll be able to explain the benefits and risks of your child using beclometasone.

These are not all the side effects of beclometasone skin cream or ointment. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Beclometasone cream is safe to use during pregnancy.

Because it's applied to your skin, very little medicine gets into your blood and almost none gets to your baby. Even if a small amount does get to your baby, it will not harm them.

You can use beclometasone cream or ointment while you're breastfeeding.

It's not known how much passes into breast milk, but it's likely to be a tiny amount, and your baby will not absorb much beclometasone into their body. It's unlikely to cause any side effects in your baby.

Take care that your baby does not touch any areas of your body where you've used beclometasone. If you're using it on your breasts, wash off any cream or ointment from your breasts or nipples, 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.

If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your health visitor, midwife, pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible.

There's no evidence that using beclometasone skin cream affects fertility in either men or women.

It's very unlikely that other medicines will affect the way beclometasone cream works.

However, tell a pharmacist or doctor if you're taking:

• medicines used to treat HIV, such as ritonavir or cobicistat
• medicines used to treat fungal infections, such as itraconazole
• other medicines that contain steroids, such as eczema creams, asthma inhalers, steroid tablets, injections, nasal sprays, and eye or nose drops

There's not enough information to say that complementary medicines, herbal remedies and supplements are safe to take while using beclometasone. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.