Brand Names:

• Aclovate
• Ala-Cort
• Cloderm
• Corta-Cap
• Cortagel Extra Strength
• Cortaid
• CortAlo With Aloe
• Corticaine
• Corticool Maximum Strength
• Cortizone-10
• Cortizone-5
• Cotacort
• Delacort
• Dermarest
• Dermtex-HC
• Foille Cort
• Gly-Cort
• Hydrozone Plus
• Hytone
• Instacort-10
• Ivy Soothe
• IvyStat
• Keratol HC
• Kericort 10
• Lacticare-HC
• Locoid
• Medi-Cortisone Maximum Strength
• Microcort
• Mycin Scalp
• Neutrogena T/Scalp
• NuCort
• Nupercainal HC
• Nutracort
• Pandel
• Pediaderm HC Kit
• Preparation H Hydrocortisone
• Proctocream-HC
• Recort Plus
• Sarnol-HC Maximum Strength
• SAStid
• Scalacort
• Scalpcort
• Summer's Eve Specialcare
• Texacort
• Therasoft Anti-Itch & Dermatitis
• U-Cort
• Westcort
• Alocort
• Barriere-Hc
• Cortacet
• Cortate
• Cortef
• Cort-Eze
• Corticreme 0.1%
• Corticreme 0.5%
• Corticreme 1%
• Cortoderm Mild Ointment
• Cortoderm Regular Ointment
• Emo-Cort

Dosage Forms:

• Gel/Jelly
• Solution
• Cream
• Spray
• Lotion
• Ointment
• Pad
• Paste
• Liquid
• Kit
• Foam
• Stick

Uses of This Medicine:

Topical corticosteroids are used to help relieve redness, swelling, itching, and discomfort of many skin problems. These medicines are like cortisone. They belong to the general family of medicines called steroids.

Most corticosteroids are available only with your doctor's prescription. Some strengths of hydrocortisone are available without a prescription. However, your doctor may have special instructions on the proper use for your medical condition.

Before Using This Medicine:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Children

Children and teenagers who must use this medicine for a long time should be checked often by their doctor. Other, more potent corticosteroids are absorbed through the skin and can affect growth or cause other unwanted effects. Topical corticosteroids also can be absorbed if they are applied to large areas of skin. These effects are less likely to occur with the use of the lower potency corticosteroids. However, before using this medicine in children, you should discuss its use with your child's doctor.

Older adults

This medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Pregnancy

When used properly, these medicines have not been shown to cause problems in humans. Studies on birth defects have not been done in humans. However, studies in animals have shown that topical corticosteroids, when applied to the skin in large amounts or used for a long time, could cause birth defects.

Breast-feeding

Topical corticosteroids have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies when used properly. However, corticosteroids should not be applied to the breasts just before nursing.

Other medicines

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Varicella Virus Vaccine

Other interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other medical problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of medicines in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus Too much use of corticosteroids may cause a loss of control of diabetes by increasing blood and urine glucose. However, this is not likely to happen when topical corticosteroids are used for a short time.

• Infection or sores at the place of treatment or
• Tuberculosis Corticosteroids may make existing infections worse or cause new infections.

• Skin conditions that cause thinning of skin with easy bruising Corticosteroids may make thinning of the skin worse.

Proper Use of This Medicine:

Be very careful not to get this medicine in your eyes. Wash your hands after using your finger to apply the medicine. If you accidentally get this medicine in your eyes, flush them with water.

Do not bandage or otherwise wrap the skin being treated unless directed to do so by your doctor.

If your doctor has ordered an occlusive dressing (airtight covering, such as kitchen plastic wrap or a special patch) to be applied over this medicine, make sure you know how to apply it. Since occlusive dressings increase the amount of medicine absorbed through your skin and the possibility of side effects, use them only as directed. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

For patients using the topical aerosol form of this medicine:

• This medicine usually comes with patient directions. Read them carefully before using this medicine.
• It is important to avoid breathing in the vapors from the spray or getting them in your eyes. If you accidentally get this medicine in your eyes, flush them with water.
• Do not use near heat, near an open flame, or while smoking.

Do not use this medicine more often or for a longer time than your doctor ordered or than recommended on the package label. To do so may increase the chance of absorption through the skin and the chance of side effects.

If this medicine has been prescribed for you, it is meant to treat a specific skin problem. Do not use it for other skin problems, and do not use nonprescription hydrocortisone for skin problems that are not listed on the package label, without first checking with your doctor. Topical corticosteroids should not be used on many kinds of bacterial, viral, or fungal skin infections.

The dose of topical corticosteroid will be different for different patients and products. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label.

Missed dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Do not puncture, break, or burn aerosol containers, even after they are empty.

Precautions While Using This Medicine:

Check with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve within 1 week or if your condition gets worse.

Avoid using tight-fitting diapers or plastic pants on a child if this medicine is being used on the child's diaper area. Plastic pants and tight-fitting diapers may increase the chance of absorption of the medicine through the skin and the chance of side effects.

Side Effects of This Medicine:

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common or rare

Blood-containing blisters on skin

burning and itching of skin

increased skin sensitivity

lack of healing of skin condition

numbness in fingers

painful, red or itchy, pus-containing blisters in hair follicles

raised, dark red, wart-like spots on skin, especially when used on the face

skin infection

thinning of skin with easy bruising

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common or rare

(usually mild and transient)

Burning, dryness, irritation, itching, or redness of skin

increased redness or scaling of skin sores

skin rash

When the gel, lotion, solution, or aerosol form of this medicine is applied, a mild, temporary stinging may be expected.

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.