The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7279 p803
13 December 2003

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Archives of Disease in Childhood (adc.bmjjournals.com)

Herbal creams contain steroids

Many herbal creams reported as being effective for the treatment of childhood eczema contain corticosteroids, a new study indicates.

Researchers analysed 24 creams submitted by parents who believed the creams were herbal and free from steroids. Of 17 unnamed creams, 13 contained clobetasol proprionate, clobetasol proprionate plus hydrocortisone, betamethasone valerate, clobetasone butyrate or hydrocortisone. All seven creams labelled Wau Wa cream and Muijiza cream contained clobetasol proprionate (Archives of Disease in Childhood 2003;88:1056).