Advice to patients
(37) Betamethasone valerate cream and ointment
- Betamethasone is used to reduce inflammation of the skin, making it less red and itchy.
- A thin layer is usually smoothed gently into the affected skin once or twice a day. Unless you have been told to by the doctor, do not use it on the face.
- If you are using a simple emollient or moisturising product at the same time, apply the betamethasone first.
- Unless you are using the cream/ointment on the hands, wash your hands after use.
- If the skin problem gets worse, stop using the cream/ointment and tell your doctor straight away. You should see some improvement within a week or two.
- Side effects are unlikely unless you use a lot of the cream/ointment continuously for a long time. Side effects include thinning of the skin and, rarely, allergy to one of the ingredients.
This series of "advice tips" on commonly used drugs is written by pharmacists from the Sussex Pharmacy Academic Practice Unit. It is intended as a reminder of points to be made by pharmacists as they hand out dispensed medicines. The list is not intended to be comprehensive but to cover some important points. Cards for sale: Sets of the first 25 "tips" are now available for sale as 12 x 15cm cards, supplied with a ring binder, at a cost of £9.95. Orders should be sent to Pharmacy Practice Consultants, 12 Firle Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN15 0NZ, with cheques payable to Pharmacy Practice Consultants.
By Carina and Duncan Livingstone
Other items in the series