Clobetasone Ointment 0.05%

What is Clobetasone Ointment 0.05%?

Clobetasone is a moderately potent topical corticosteroid used in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis.

It contains the active ingredient clobetasone butyrate, which is a moderately potent topical corticosteroid which is used to treat eczema flare ups by reducing inflammation of the affected area.

It is often sold under the brand name Eumovate.

Clobetasone ointment can be used by adults and children over the age of 12. You do not need a prescription to buy Clobetasone. 

What is Clobetasone Ointment used to treat?

Clobetasone 0.05 ointment is used to treat inflammatory skin conditions, such as:

• Eczema
• Nappy rash
• Dermatitis
• Psoriasis
• Insect bites and stings

The ointment contains a corticosteroid medicine called clobetasone butyrate, which works to relieve inflammation, redness, and itching. 

How does Clobetasone Ointment work?

Clobetasone contains the active ingredient clobetasone butyrate, which is a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are a type of steroid medicine that have anti-inflammatory properties.

Inflammation of the skin occurs when your body releases inflammatory chemicals as a response to an allergy or irritation. These chemicals widen your blood vessels, which makes the skin swell and become painful or itchy.

Clobetasone ointment works by inhibiting cells from releasing large amounts of these chemicals. This reduces inflammation and helps skin to return to normal.

Who can use Clobetasone?

Clobetasone is safe to be used by most adults and children aged 12 years and above. You should not use Clobetasone on children under the age of 12 unless a doctor has specifically prescribed it for them.

Do not use Clobetasone without speaking to your pharmacist or doctor if:

• You are allergic to clobetasone butyrate, cetostearyl alcohol, chlorocresol or any of the other ingredients contained in this medicine (please see the ingredients tab for full details)
• You have ever had an allergic reaction to Clobetasone or any other medicines
• You have acne or rosacea
• You have an eye infection
• You have a skin infection, cuts, broken skin, or itchy skin that is not inflamed or red (using Clobetasone may make these infections worse, or cause them to spread)
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding

This list might not be exhaustive. Always read the patient information leaflet that accompanies your medication for a complete list of precautions.

Should I use Clobetasone Cream or Ointment?

The main difference between the cream and ointment is the amount of oil they contain. Ointments typically contain more oil and are quite greasy, they are highly effective at keeping moisture in particularly dry skin. In summary, Ointments are recommended for areas of the skin that are dry and not inflamed.

Creams on the other hand contain less oil, they are recommended for more inflamed, swollen, moist and weeping areas of the skin.

Can you buy Clobetasone Ointment over the counter?

Yes, you can buy Clobetasone over the counter from pharmacies and supermarkets. However, if you are buying it without a prescription, you should not use it for longer than one week without speaking to your doctor.

Can you buy Clobetasone online in the UK?

You can buy Clobetasone ointment online from Medicine Direct by filling out our online consultation questionnaire. This is to make sure that this medication is the most appropriate treatment for your condition. Your answers will be reviewed by one of our certified prescribers.

Order by 2pm for next day delivery.

For your own safety, you are advised to never order either prescription or non-prescription medicine from anywhere online other than registered pharmacies. Medicine Direct is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, to ensure all our medicine is safe and approved for sale in the UK.

Clobetasone alternatives

We also sell Eumovate, which is the branded version of clobetasone, it is available as a Cream and Ointment.

If Clobetasone is not suitable for you to use, do not worry; there are plenty of alternative medicines for skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis.

Alternative corticosteroid medicines are available to buy from Medicine Direct’s online pharmacy after completing an online consultation. These medicines will also work to reduce inflammation and other symptoms such as redness and irritation. Other corticosteroid treatments include Betamethasone and Fucibet Cream.

If your condition is localised on your scalp, we also offer scalp application medicines to treat the problem, such as Betacap and Betnovate. These products work to alleviate itching, and inflammation caused by dry skin problems.

Dosage and Directions

Our pharmacists and prescribers follow NICE guidelines when prescribing clobetasome ointment.

How to use Clobetasone Ointment

Always apply Clobetasone 0.05 Ointment exactly as instructed by your doctor or pharmacist. Read the patient information leaflet thoroughly before you start to use it. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for further guidance if you are still not sure.

How much you will need to use will depend on the size of the affected area of skin.

How and when to use it

1. Spread the ointment in a thin layer over the irritated skin.
2. Gently rub it into the skin in the direction your hair grows.
3. Take care not to get the medicine into broken skin or cuts.
4. Make sure the treatment covers the whole of the affected area(s), not just the worst parts.
5. Wash your hands after applying the medicine unless your hands are the treatment area.

Apply this product once or twice a day; as your symptoms start to improve, you can decrease the dose.

Do not apply this product to your face unless specifically instructed to do so by your doctor. A clinical study found Hydrocortisone 1% to be a more suitable first line treatment for facial eczema.

Do not apply a moisturiser or any other product for at least 30 minutes after using Clobetasone.

If you are using Clobetasone for nappy rash, do not put the nappy on straight after applying it. This will help to prevent side effects.

If you are using a plaster or dressing, wait for at least 10 minutes after applying Clobetasone before you put it on.

Side effects

Common Side Effects

Some people may suffer a burning or stinging sensation for a few minutes when they apply the ointment to their skin. However, this should stop happening when you have been using it for a few days.

Speak to your doctor if this problem bothers you or does not go away.

Serious Side Effects

The serious side effects of Clobetasone will occur in 1 in 10,000 people who use it.

You are more likely to suffer a serious side effect if you apply the ointment over a large patch of skin for extended periods of time.

Stop using Clobetasone and seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of the following:

• You have any new eyesight problems after you have started to use Clobetasone
• You are using this product to treat psoriasis and you get raised bumps under the skin, which are filled with pus
• You feel more thirsty or hungry than usual, confused, sleepy, need to urinate more often, start breathing quickly or your breath smells of fruit, you have hot flushes (these can be signs of high blood sugar)
• Your skin becomes red or swollen, you have white patches on your skin or yellow fluid weeps from the skin (these could be symptoms of a new skin infection, or the existing one getting worse)

Prolonged use of Clobetasone can thin your skin or give you stretch marks. If you do get stretch marks, they will likely be permanent, although they will normally fade in time.

Children and teenagers

In very rare cases children and teenagers who use Clobetasone for an extended period may experience slowing down in growth. This is because the medicine is a steroid.

Your child's doctor will monitor their weight and height while this medicine is being used.

If you are worried, please speak to your doctor, who will be able to explain the risks and benefits associated with this product.

Please note, these lists may not be exhaustive. Always read the patient information leaflet for full details on side effects.

Warnings and Drug Interactions

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

You are not advised to use Clobetasone 0.05 Ointment without speaking to your doctor if you are pregnant. Make sure your pharmacist or doctor is aware if you are either currently pregnant, think you might be pregnant or are trying to get pregnant.

It is generally safe to use Clobetasone while breastfeeding. If you are using the product on your breasts, thoroughly wash off any remaining ointment before you breastfeed your baby. Wash your hands before touching your nipple or the baby's mouth.

We recommend BUMPS for additional information.

Cautions with other medicines

It is unlikely Clobetasone will interact with other medicines. Nonetheless, always tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are taking any other prescription or non-prescription medicines, herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements, before you start to take a new medication.

In particular, make sure they aware if you are taking:

• Ritonavir
• Itraconazole

Always read the patient information leaflet before you start to use a new medicine.

If you have any questions or concerns about using this product, please do not hesitate to discuss them with your pharmacist or doctor.

Ingredients

The active ingredient contained in this ointment is clobetasone butyrate (0.05% w/w).

Inactive ingredients are: Liquid paraffin and white soft paraffin.