Corticosteroid preparations (topical) 

Topical corticosteroid is a general term that refers to any sort of cream, gel or ointment containing corticosteroids (see below). People sometimes use the term ‘steroid creams’ when talking about topical corticosteroids.

Topical corticosteroids are widely used in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions such as:

• atopic eczema – a chronic skin condition where the skin becomes itchy, reddened, dry and cracked
• psoriasis – a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales

See the Health A-Z topic about Corticosteroids for information about corticosteroid tablets and sprays.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are a synthetic (artificial) version of hormones that are made by the adrenal gland. Hormones are powerful chemicals that have a wide range of effects on the functions of the body.

The main purpose of topical corticosteroids is to reduce skin inflammation and irritation. They cannot cure the conditions that trigger these types of symptoms, but they can provide temporary relief when you have a particularly bad flare-up of symptoms.

Types of topical corticosteroids

There are five main types of topical corticosteroids:

• solutions – water- or alcohol-based liquids that are non-greasy and easy to apply, but they can sometimes cause dryness of the skin
• lotions – similar to solutions but thicker; they are often recommended to treat larger areas of skin or hairy areas
• creams – thicker than lotions and often recommended when the affected skin has become moist or weepy (leaking liquid)
• ointments – liquids that contain high levels of oil, meaning they can be quite greasy; they moisturise the skin and are therefore recommended to treat skin that has become dry and scaly
• gels – a more solidified, jelly-like substance, often used to treat areas of the body that are very hairy, such as the scalp

Strengths of topical corticosteroids

Topical corticosteroids are available in different strengths. The strength is determined by the amount of steroids that the medicine contains. The strengths available are:

• mild
• moderate
• potent
• very potent

See Topical corticosteroids - dosage for more information about potency.

Your GP will usually prescribe the lowest strength of corticosteroid that is necessary to control your symptoms. This reduces the risk of any adverse side effects occurring, such as:

• thinning of the skin
• the skin becoming more vulnerable to infection
• changes in skin colour

See Topical corticosteroids - side effects for more information.

Safety

If they are used as directed by your GP, topical corticosteroids are a very safe form of treatment. Serious side effects usually only occur if excessive amounts of potent or very potent corticosteroids are applied.

High levels of potent topical corticosteroids can disrupt the normal hormonal balance in the body and cause more wide-ranging side effects, such as:

• hyperglycaemia – an increase in blood sugar levels
• high blood pressure (hypertension)