What should you know about medium to high potency topical corticosteroids?

These medicines calm inflammatory signals in the skin. A clinician may prescribe them for flares of atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, asteatotic eczema, lichen planus, or other steroid-responsive conditions. Potency is selected according to the body site, thickness of the skin, severity of the flare, and the treatment plan.

Thin skin on the face, eyelids, folds, and genitals absorbs medicine more readily than thicker skin on the palms or soles. Prolonged or unsuitable use can cause thinning, visible small blood vessels, acne-like changes, colour change, or worsening of an infection. Stronger is not automatically more suitable.

Apply a thin layer only to the affected skin, following the prescribed schedule. Wash your hands afterward unless the hands are the treated area, and keep the product away from eyes and broken skin unless specifically instructed. Continue moisturiser as advised, leaving enough time between products when your clinician recommends it.

Do not share the tube, cover treated skin with tight dressings, or use it for an unexplained rash without assessment. Tell the prescriber about other steroid products, infection symptoms, and treatment on children or large areas. The same medicine may be appropriate for a flare of dyshidrotic eczema but unsuitable for a different rash such as heat rash or drug eruption.

Seek medical advice if the rash spreads, becomes painful, develops pus or crusting, or fails to improve as expected. Arrange prompt review for eye pain or vision changes after facial use. Get urgent help for facial swelling with breathing difficulty. A flare that returns immediately after stopping, or skin that becomes unusually thin or fragile, also needs a treatment review.

Ask where the medicine may be applied, how much to use, how long the course should last, whether a taper is needed, and which moisturisers or infection treatments can be used alongside it.