Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPotency and AbsorptionSide EffectsApplication TipsAlternatives
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Potency and Absorption
Side Effects
Application Tips
Alternatives
There are a wide variety ofcortisone or steroid creamsavailable over the counter, which can give the impression that these products are good for any dermatological use. But you should exercise caution, especially if you’re looking to apply these creams to your face.
Do not use topical steroids, such as hydrocortisone cream, on your face every day or even regularly. In fact, consider talking to your healthcare provider and getting a prescription medication that’s safe for the face before using steroids on delicate facial skin at all.
This article explains how to choose a steroid cream to use on your face, how to apply it safely, and which side effects to watch out for.
Steroid Cream Potency and Absorption
Only the lowest-potency topical steroids should be used on your face. This is because the skin on your face is thin. And thin skin absorbs more of the steroid than other areas of your body.
Likewise, sticking to a low-potency steroid is important when applying it to other areas of the body with thin skin. The neck, groin, underneath the breast, and the armpit are among these sensitive areas.
Children are even more susceptible to increased absorption because of their larger ratio of skin surface to body mass.
Examples of low-potency topical steroids include Cortizone 10 (hydrocortisone), which is in Group 7. Kenalog 0.025% (triamcinolone) is in Group 6.
Your face is more vulnerable to developing side effects from topical steroids. These side effects most often appear where the medication was applied. The effects may include:
Many of these side effects doresolve after stopping the steroid, but it may take months. This is why the American Academy of Dermatology recommends closely monitoring the areas (such as the face) where the steroid is being applied.
Continuous use of topical steroids for long periods of time should also be avoided.
Applying a Steroid Cream to Your Face
When applying a steroid cream to your face, it’s essential to follow the advice of your healthcare provider. Too little cream may not work and too much increases your risk of side effects.
Be sure to keep the cream away from your eyes. It could cause serious eye problems, like glaucoma orcataracts.
A good rule of thumb when deciding how much steroid cream to apply (for adults) is to use the fingertip unit method. A fingertip unit is defined as the amount of steroid cream that can fit on your fingertip, up to the first crease of your finger.
In general, 2.5 fingertip units may be used on your face per application. Still, confirm with your healthcare provider that this amount is right for you.
How Long Does It Take for Hydrocortisone Cream To Work?
If a longer-term application is needed for a chronic (long-term) condition, your healthcare provider will likely recommend following a specific schedule. In this way, the steroid amount can be reduced, stopped, and then restarted after a steroid-free period.
Unlike topical steroids, TCIs do not cause skin thinning, pigment changes, blood vessel formation, or striae formation. Nor do they lose effectiveness with prolonged use.
In addition, TCIs can be used on any skin, including the face and eyelids. Just like any medication, however, even TCIs have possible side effects. In fact, there areFDA warnings associated with Elidel and Protopic.
The FDA has ordered that labels on the product boxes warn consumers about “a possible risk of cancer,” based on rare reports of skin cancer and lymphoma. Though the risk is low, the agency reminds consumers to use the products “as recommended.”
Summary
When using a steroid cream on the face or any thin skin, it’s generally best to use a low-potency cream and apply the smallest amount that works. Also, avoid getting the medication in your eyes.
Use steroid cream for the shortest amount of time possible. Side effects of steroid cream use include thinning of the skin, pigment changes, and problems with wound healing. Your healthcare provider may recommend non-steroid alternatives for use on the face instead.
Although these creams are widely available, they’re effective only when used to treat specific skin conditions, like eczema or psoriasis. In other words, slathering on a steroid cream for just any rash is not the way to go. Instead, use the cream only under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Health Organization.WHO model prescribing information: drugs used in skin diseases.Ference JD, Last AR.Choosing topical corticosteroids.Am Fam Physician. 2009;79(2):135-40.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Atopic dermatitis clinical guideline.Andersson NW, Skov L, Andersen JT.Evaluation of topical corticosteroid use in pregnancy and risk of newborns being small for gestational age and having low birth weight.JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(7):788-795. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.1090MedlinePlus.Hydrocortisone topical.Carr WW.Topical calcineurin inhibitors for atopic dermatitis: review and treatment recommendations.Paediatr Drugs. 2013;15(4):303–310. doi:10.1007/s40272-013-0013-9Cury Martins J, Martins C, Aoki V, Gois AF, Ishii HA, Da Silva EM.Topical tacrolimus for atopic dermatitis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2015;(7):CD009864. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009864.pub2Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves updated labeling with boxed warning and medication guide for two eczema drugs, Elidel and Protopic.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Health Organization.WHO model prescribing information: drugs used in skin diseases.Ference JD, Last AR.Choosing topical corticosteroids.Am Fam Physician. 2009;79(2):135-40.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Atopic dermatitis clinical guideline.Andersson NW, Skov L, Andersen JT.Evaluation of topical corticosteroid use in pregnancy and risk of newborns being small for gestational age and having low birth weight.JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(7):788-795. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.1090MedlinePlus.Hydrocortisone topical.Carr WW.Topical calcineurin inhibitors for atopic dermatitis: review and treatment recommendations.Paediatr Drugs. 2013;15(4):303–310. doi:10.1007/s40272-013-0013-9Cury Martins J, Martins C, Aoki V, Gois AF, Ishii HA, Da Silva EM.Topical tacrolimus for atopic dermatitis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2015;(7):CD009864. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009864.pub2Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves updated labeling with boxed warning and medication guide for two eczema drugs, Elidel and Protopic.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
World Health Organization.WHO model prescribing information: drugs used in skin diseases.Ference JD, Last AR.Choosing topical corticosteroids.Am Fam Physician. 2009;79(2):135-40.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Atopic dermatitis clinical guideline.Andersson NW, Skov L, Andersen JT.Evaluation of topical corticosteroid use in pregnancy and risk of newborns being small for gestational age and having low birth weight.JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(7):788-795. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.1090MedlinePlus.Hydrocortisone topical.Carr WW.Topical calcineurin inhibitors for atopic dermatitis: review and treatment recommendations.Paediatr Drugs. 2013;15(4):303–310. doi:10.1007/s40272-013-0013-9Cury Martins J, Martins C, Aoki V, Gois AF, Ishii HA, Da Silva EM.Topical tacrolimus for atopic dermatitis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2015;(7):CD009864. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009864.pub2Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves updated labeling with boxed warning and medication guide for two eczema drugs, Elidel and Protopic.
World Health Organization.WHO model prescribing information: drugs used in skin diseases.
Ference JD, Last AR.Choosing topical corticosteroids.Am Fam Physician. 2009;79(2):135-40.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Atopic dermatitis clinical guideline.
Andersson NW, Skov L, Andersen JT.Evaluation of topical corticosteroid use in pregnancy and risk of newborns being small for gestational age and having low birth weight.JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(7):788-795. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.1090
MedlinePlus.Hydrocortisone topical.
Carr WW.Topical calcineurin inhibitors for atopic dermatitis: review and treatment recommendations.Paediatr Drugs. 2013;15(4):303–310. doi:10.1007/s40272-013-0013-9
Cury Martins J, Martins C, Aoki V, Gois AF, Ishii HA, Da Silva EM.Topical tacrolimus for atopic dermatitis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2015;(7):CD009864. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009864.pub2
Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves updated labeling with boxed warning and medication guide for two eczema drugs, Elidel and Protopic.
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