Betamethasone Cream: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Betamethasone Cream is a strong topical steroid used to reduce swelling, redness, and itching caused by certain skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. It comes alone or combined with medicines like neomycin or clioquinol, which fight infections. It works by calming inflammation and narrowing blood vessels in the skin. It is available in several forms and strengths, and should be used exactly as prescribed.

What is Betamethasone Cream

Betamethasone is a strong steroid medicine that is applied to the skin. It reduces swelling, redness, and itching caused by certain skin conditions. It comes alone or combined with other medicines such as neomycin or clioquinol, which fight infections.

Betamethasone Cream uses

• Treats inflammation and itching caused by skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis
• Relieves redness, dryness, crusting, scaling, and discomfort of various skin conditions
• Combination creams (with neomycin or clioquinol) also help when a bacterial or fungal skin infection is present alongside the inflammation

Benefits of Betamethasone Cream

• Reduces swelling, redness, heat, pain, and itching of the skin
• Can improve corticosteroid-responsive skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis within the first couple of weeks of treatment

How Betamethasone Cream works

Betamethasone works by activating natural substances in the skin that reduce swelling, redness, and itching, and it also causes blood vessels in the skin to narrow, which helps calm inflammation.

Betamethasone Cream dosage

Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor and follow the directions on the label. Apply only to the skin; do not take by mouth and avoid open wounds, sunburned, windburned, dry, or irritated skin. Wash your hands before and after use, unless treating the hands themselves. Apply a small amount and rub gently into the skin; do not use over large areas of skin.

Do not cover the treated area with a bandage or dressing unless your doctor says to, since this increases how much medicine your skin absorbs. Use regularly for the best benefit, and stop once your skin symptoms clear up. Avoid the face, underarms, groin, eyes, and mouth unless your doctor tells you otherwise. If treating a child's diaper area, avoid tight-fitting diapers or plastic pants. Rinse with water if the medicine gets into your eyes or mouth.

For foam formulations, stay away from open flame and do not smoke until the foam has dried on the skin. If you miss an application, apply it as soon as you remember, but skip it if it is almost time for the next one; do not apply a double amount.

Available forms and strengths

• Cream
• Gel
• Ointment
• Lotion
• Foam
• Spray (aerosol)

Side effects of Betamethasone Cream

Common

• Burning, itching, stinging, or irritation of the skin
• Redness or dryness of the skin
• Bruising or shiny appearance of the skin
• Folliculitis (redness or crusting around hair follicles)
• Acne or rosacea-like eruptions
• Unwanted hair growth
• Changes in skin color
• Small white or red bumps on the skin

Serious

• Signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Severe skin irritation where the medicine was applied
• Signs of skin infection: swelling, redness, warmth, or oozing
• Blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights
• Slow wound healing, thinning skin, increased body hair
• Increased thirst or urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor
• Weight gain or puffiness in the face (moon face)
• Muscle weakness, tiredness, depression, anxiety, or irritability
• Slowed growth in children
• Steroid withdrawal reaction after long-term use: spreading redness, burning or stinging, intense itching, peeling skin, oozing sores

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine for longer than your doctor has told you, and be careful when using it on large areas of skin.
• Do not use this medicine to treat diaper rash or redness, and avoid applying it to the diaper area.
• This medicine may increase the chance of developing cataracts or glaucoma.
• Do not use on children without a doctor's advice, since children can absorb more medicine through their skin and may have more side effects.
• The foam form of this medicine can catch fire, so avoid open flame or smoking near it, and until it has dried on the skin.
• Do not smoke or go near naked flames when using this cream, since fabric that has touched the product can catch fire more easily.
• If your skin problem gets worse or becomes swollen during treatment, this could mean you are allergic to the cream or need a different treatment.
• Using large amounts over a long time, under a dressing, or in a diaper area can lead to serious body-wide effects like weight gain, high blood pressure, and effects on growth, especially in children.
• It is not known whether this medicine can harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant, so they can weigh the benefits against possible risks.
• It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about the risks, and if applying to the chest, avoid areas that could touch the baby's mouth.
• If you have kidney problems, tell your doctor, as they may need to adjust how much cream you use or how often you apply it.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver disease before using this medicine.
• This medicine is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery, though some product information advises using caution while driving or operating machinery.

Storage

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat
• Do not store above 25°C (for the betamethasone/neomycin cream) or above 30°C (for the betamethasone/clioquinol cream)
• Do not freeze
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children
• Do not use after the expiry date shown on the tube or carton
• Do not throw away medicines via wastewater or household waste; ask your pharmacist how to dispose of unused medicine

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you show signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Stop using the medicine and call your doctor right away if you notice severe skin irritation or signs of a skin infection such as swelling, redness, warmth, or oozing.
• Call your doctor if your skin condition has not improved after two weeks, or if it gets worse.
• If a large amount is swallowed by accident, seek emergency medical help or contact a poison control center right away.
• If someone swallows a lot of the cream and becomes ill, talk to a doctor or go to the hospital as soon as possible.

Alternatives

• Hydrocortisone Cream
• Triamcinolone Cream
• Clobetasone Cream