Beclometasone cream and ointment are used to treat itching, swollen and irritated skin. They can help with conditions such as:

• eczema
• psoriasis

Beclometasone skin creams are available on prescription only. They are stronger than other skin creams such as hydrocortisone.

Beclometasone (sometimes written as "beclomethasone") is a type of medicine known as a steroid (also called a corticosteroid). This is not the same as an anabolic steroid.

It also comes as:

• beclometasone inhalers – for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• beclometasone nasal (nose) spray – for hay fever and cold-like symptoms caused by common allergies (rhinitis)
• beclometasone tablets – for ulcerative colitis

• It's important to follow the instructions when using a steroid skin cream or ointment. This helps to avoid side effects.
• Only use a steroid skin treatment if your doctor prescribes it for you. Do not use someone else's medicine.
• Creams are better for skin that is moist or weepy. Ointments are thicker and greasier and better for dry or flaky skin.
• Beclometasone skin creams will not help with conditions such as acne or rosacea.
• Only use beclometasone on your face if your doctor says it's OK to.

Most adults can use beclometasone.

Children aged 1 year and older can use beclometasone cream. However, doctors may occasionally prescribe it for younger children.

Beclometasone may not be suitable for some people. Tell a pharmacist or doctor before using it if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to beclometasone or any other medicine in the past
• have broken skin, cuts, or itchy skin that is not inflamed or red
• have a skin infection – using beclometasone can make a skin infection worse or cause it to spread
• have an eye infection
• have acne or rosacea
• are trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or you're breastfeeding

Beclometasone is available as a cream and ointment.

Always follow the instructions from a pharmacist or doctor, or the leaflet that comes with your medicine.

You will usually use the cream or ointment once or twice a day. Use it on all the areas of your skin affected by the skin problem.

If you use it twice a day, try to leave a gap of 8 to 12 hours between doses.

How much to put on

The amount of cream or ointment you need to use is sometimes measured in fingertip units. This is the amount of cream or ointment you can squeeze onto the end of your finger.

As a general rule, a fingertip unit of cream is enough to treat an area that's twice the size of the palm of your hand.

Beclometasone skin creams are unlikely to cause any side effects if you follow the instructions.

Some people get a burning or stinging feeling for a few minutes when they put beclometasone on their skin. This stops happening after you've been using it for a few days.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects are rare. You're more likely to have a serious side effect if you use beclometasone on a large area of skin for a long time.

Using beclometasone for a long time can make your skin thinner or cause stretch marks. Stretch marks are likely to be permanent, but they usually fade over time.

Stop using beclometasone and tell a doctor immediately if:

• the treated skin becomes redder or swollen, or yellow fluid is weeping from your skin – these are signs of a new skin infection or an existing one getting worse
• you get lighter or darker patches on your skin – these are a sign of changes to the pigment in your skin
• you have a very upset stomach or you're being sick (vomiting), feel very tired, have very bad dizziness or fainting, muscle weakness, mood changes, loss of appetite and weight loss – these can be signs of adrenal gland problems
• you are using beclometasone for psoriasis and you get raised bumps filled with pus under your skin
• you feel confused, sleepy, more thirsty or hungry than usual, pee more often, have hot flushes, start breathing quickly or your breath smells of fruit – these can be signs of high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia). There's a small risk of this when using beclometasone for a long time
• you have any new problems with your eyesight after starting to use beclometasone

Children and teenagers

In very rare cases, using beclometasone for a long time can slow down the normal growth of children and teenagers.

Your child's doctor will monitor their height and weight carefully for as long as they're using this medicine. This will help them spot any slowing down of your child's growth and change their treatment if needed.

Talk to your doctor if you're worried. They will be able to explain the benefits and risks of your child using beclometasone.

Serious allergic reaction

It happens rarely but it is possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to beclometasone.

Beclometasone cream is safe to use during pregnancy. Since it's applied to the skin, very little of the medicine gets into your bloodstream and almost none gets to your baby. Even if a small amount does get to your baby, it will not harm them.

Read more about how using corticosteroid cream or ointment, like beclometasone, might affect you and your baby during pregnancy from the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPs) website.

Beclometasone and breastfeeding

You can use beclometasone cream or ointment while you're breastfeeding. It is not known how much passes into breast milk, but it's likely to be a tiny amount. It would not be expected to cause any side effects in your baby.

Take care that your baby does not touch any areas of your body where you've used beclometasone. If you're using beclometasone on your breasts, wash off any cream or ointment from your breasts or nipples, then wash your hands before feeding your baby.

It's usually better to use cream rather than ointment when breastfeeding, as it's easier to wash off.

Other medicines are very unlikely to affect the way beclometasone creams work.

However, tell a pharmacist or doctor if you're taking:

• medicines used to treat HIV, such as ritonavir or cobicistat
• medicines used to treat fungal infections, such as ketoconazole or itraconazole
• other medicines that contain steroids, such as eczema creams, asthma inhalers, tablets, injections, nasal sprays, and eye or nose drops

Mixing beclometasone with herbal remedies and supplements

There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements while using beclometasone. Ask a pharmacist for advice.