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Corticosteroids - topical (skin), nose, and eyes - Management
How much topical corticosteroid should I prescribe?
- It is important that the appropriate quantity of topical corticosteroid is prescribed (to avoid undertreatment).
- For suitable quantities of topical corticosteroid creams and ointments to prescribe, assuming the person is applying treatment twice a day for 2 weeks, see Table 1.
- For the weekly dose of topical corticosteroids unlikely to cause systemic adverse effects in adults, see Table 2.
Table 1. Suitable quantities of corticosteroids to prescribe (application twice a day for 2 weeks).
Area of the body | Suitable quantity to prescribe |
|---|
Face and neck | 15–30 g |
Both hands | 15–30 g |
Scalp | 15–30 g |
Both arms | 30–60 g |
Both legs | 100 g |
Trunk | 100 g |
Groin and genitalia | 15–30 g |
|
Table 2. Weekly dose of topical corticosteroids unlikely to cause systemic adverse effects in adults.
Treatment period | Moderately potent (g) | Potent (g) | Very potent (g) |
|---|
< 2 months | 100 | 50 | 30 |
2–6 months | 50 | 30 | 15 |
6–12 months | 25 | 15 | 7.5 |
|
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