Topical Hormone Application Guidelines

Corticosteroid Application

• For face and neck, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends using only mild-to-moderate potency corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone 1-2.5% or clobetasone butyrate 0.05%, due to the risk of skin atrophy and other adverse effects 1
• For body, trunk, and extremities, potent corticosteroids like betamethasone valerate 0.1% or mometasone 0.1% can be safely used, as recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 1
• For severe conditions requiring very potent steroids, the British Association of Dermatologists suggests applying clobetasol propionate 0.05% to lesional skin or the entire body surface, with a dosage of 5-15 g twice daily 2, 3
• Very potent topical corticosteroids like clobetasol propionate can be applied to genital areas for conditions like lichen sclerosus, with a recommended regimen of once nightly for 4 weeks, then alternate nights for 4 weeks, then twice weekly, as advised by the British Association of Dermatologists 4
• The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology recommends avoiding the use of potent or very potent corticosteroids on the face and neck due to increased risk of skin atrophy and other adverse effects 1
• The Infectious Diseases Society of America advises against applying topical steroids to infected skin without concurrent antimicrobial therapy, to prevent the spread of infection 5
• The American Academy of Dermatology suggests using adequate quantities of topical corticosteroids to avoid under-treatment, with recommended quantities of approximately 15-30g per 2 weeks for face/neck, 30-60g for both arms, 100g for both legs, and 100g for trunk 1