Patient leaflet - Betamethasone Valerate 0.025% w/w cream
1. What Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment is and what it is used for
Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment contains a medicine called betamethasone valerate. It belongs to a group of medicines called steroids. It helps to reduce swelling and irritation. Corticosteroid creams, ointments and other topical preparations come in four different potencies or strengths. These are known as mild, moderately potent, potent or very potent. Healthcare professionals will usually refer to topical corticosteroid potency rather than strength. A potent or strong corticosteroid has a much stronger effect than a mild corticosteroid when using the same amount. The percentage of active ingredient that is sometimes included on product packaging does not indicate potency. Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment is classed as a strong/very strong corticosteroid. Your healthcare professional will prescribe or advise a steroid of the appropriate potency for your condition.
Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment is used to help reduce the redness and itchiness of certain skin problems. These skin problems include eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.
Betamethasone Valerate 0.025% w/w preparations contains less active ingredient than Betamethasone Valerate 0.1% preparations. It is used:
- For milder skin problems, or
- To keep your skin problem under control after Betamethasone Valerate 0.1% has improved it.
2. What you need to know before you use Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment
Do not use Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment:
if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to betamethasone valerate or any of the other ingredients of
Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment (listed in Section 6)
on a child under 1 years old
to treat any of the following skin problems, it could make them worse:
- acne
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Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment if;
- you have previously had an allergic reaction with another steroid
you are applying the cream or ointment under an airtight dressing, including a child’s nappy.
These dressings make it easier for the active ingredient to pass through the skin. It is possible to accidentally end up using too much.
- you have psoriasis, your doctor will want to see you more often.
- using for a chronic leg ulcer as you may be at increased risk of local allergic reaction or infection.
- you are applying to a large surface area
- you are applying the cream or ointment on broken skin or within the skin folds.
- you are applying near eyes or on eyelids, as cataracts or glaucoma may result if the cream or ointment repeatedly enters the eye.
- you are applying to thin skin such as the face or on children as their skin is thinner than adults and as a result may absorb larger amounts.
Contact your doctor if you experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances.
Dressing or bandages should not be used on children or on the face where the cream or ointment is applied.
Use on children or on the face should be limited to 5 days.
Do not smoke or go near naked flames - risk of severe burns. Fabric (clothing, bedding, dressings etc) that has been in contact with this product burns more easily and is a serious fire hazard. Washing clothing and bedding may reduce product build-up but not totally remove it.
If there is a worsening of your condition during use consult your prescriber – you may be experiencing an allergic reaction, have an infection or your condition requires a different treatment. If you experience a recurrence of your condition shortly after stopping treatment, within 2 weeks, do not restart using the cream/ointment without consulting your prescriber unless your prescriber has previously advised you to so. If your condition has resolved and on recurrence the redness extends beyond the initial treatment area and you experience a burning sensation, please seek medical advice before restarting treatment.
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.
Other medicines and Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicine, especially if you are taking ritoavir and itraconazole medications.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding:
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are pregnant, might become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Betamethasone Valerate Cream contains cetostearyl alcohol and chlorocresol
Cetostearyl alcohol can cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis) and chlorocresol may cause allergic reactions.
3 How to use Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment
Always use Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Using this medicine
- You usually apply Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment 1 to 3 times a day. This may be reduced as your skin begins to get better, or stopped when it is better.
- This cream or ointment is for use on your skin only.
- Do not use more than the amount prescribed for you.
- Do not use on large areas of the body for a long time (such as every day for many weeks or months), unless your doctor tells you to.
- The germs that cause infections like warm and moist conditions under bandages or dressings, so always clean the skin before a fresh dressing is put on.
- If you are applying the cream or ointment on someone else make sure you wash your hands after use or wear disposable plastic gloves.
- If your skin problem does not improve in 2 to 4 weeks, talk to your doctor.
Guidance on how to apply the cream or ointment
- 1. Wash your hands.
- 2.
Gently rub the correct amount of cream or ointment into the skin until it has all disappeared.
You can measure how much Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment to use with your fingertip.
This picture shows one fingertip unit.
- 3. Unless you are meant to apply the cream or ointment to your hands as a part of the treatment, wash them again after using the cream or ointment.
For an adult:
You should find that:
- two fingertips of cream or ointment will cover both hands or one foot
- three fingertips of cream or ointment will cover one arm
- six fingertips of cream or ointment will cover one leg
fourteen fingertips of cream or ointment will cover the front and back
of the body.
Do not worry if you find you need a little more or a little less than this. It is only a rough guide.
For a child:
- Do not use it on children under 1 years of age.
- The smaller the child the less you will need to use.
- A child of 4 years needs about a third of the adult amount.
- A course of treatment for a child should not normally last more than 5 days – unless your doctor has told you to use it for longer.
If you have psoriasis
If you have thick patches of psoriasis on your elbows or knees, your doctor may suggest applying the cream or ointment under an airtight dressing. It will only be at night to help the cream or ointment to start working. After a short period of time you will then apply the cream or ointment as normal.
If you apply Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment to your face
You should only apply the cream or ointment to your face if your doctor tells you to. It should not be used for more than 5 days, as the skin on your face thins easily. Do not let the cream or ointment get into your eyes. If it does, wash it out with plenty of water.
If you use more Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment than you should
If , by mistake on a few occasions you use more than you should, do not worry. If you apply a lot or if a lot is accidentally swallowed, it could make you ill. Talk to your doctor or go to hospital as soon as possible.
If you forget to use Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment
If you forget to apply your cream or ointment, apply it as soon as you remember. If it close to the time you are next meant to apply it, wait until this time.
If you stop using Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment
If you use Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment regularly make sure you talk to your doctor before you stop using it.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop using Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment and tell your doctor as soon as possible if:
- you develop a generalized rash on your skin
- you find that your skin problem gets worse or becomes swollen during treatment. You may be allergic to the cream or ointment, have an infection or need other treatment.
- you have psoriasis you may get raised bumps with pus under the skin. This can happen very rarely during or after treatment and is known as pustular psoriasis.
Other side effects you may notice when using Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment include:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- A feeling of burning, pain, irritation or itching where the cream or ointment is applied.
Side effects if you use Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment for a long time, or you use a lot each time you apply it, or you apply it under an airtight dressing or a nappy.
Very Rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
- An increased risk of infection
- An allergic skin reaction where the cream or ointment is applied
- Rash, itchy bumpy skin or redness of the skin
- Thinning and dryness of your skin and it may also damage or wrinkle more easily
- Stretch marks may develop
- Veins under the surface of your skin may become more noticeable
- Increased hair growth or reduction in hair growth or hair loss and changes in skin colour.
- Weight gain, rounding of the face and high blood pressure. These are more likely to happen in infants and children
- Bones can become thin, weak and break easily.
- Cloudy lens in the eye (cataract) or increased pressure in eye (glaucoma)
- Increased blood sugar levels or sugar in the urine
- Slow growth in children
- Decreased endogenous cortisol levels.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
- Blurred vision
Steroid withdrawal reaction: If used continuously for prolonged periods a withdrawal reaction may occur on stopping treatment with some or all of the following features: redness of the skin which can extend beyond the initial area treated, a burning or stinging sensation, intense itching, peeling of the skin, oozing open sores.
If any of the above side effects are troublesome or last more than a few days or if you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the yellow card scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment
Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not store above 30 °C.
Once opened, do not use this medicine for more than 3 months.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the tube or carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment contains:
The active ingredient is betamethasone valerate.
Each 1g contains 0.25mg of betamethasone (0.025% w/w) as betamethasone valerate.
The other ingredients are:
Cream: Macrogol cetostearyl ether 20, cetostearyl alcohol, chlorocresol, disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate, citric acid monohydrate, liquid paraffin, white soft paraffin and purified water.
Ointment: liquid paraffin and white soft paraffin.
What Betamethasone Valerate Cream/Ointment looks like and contents of the pack:
Betamethasone Valerate Cream is a white or almost white cream.
Betamethasone Valerate Ointment is an opaque ointment.
Within each carton is a tube with a plastic screw cap, which contains 100 g of cream or ointment.
Marketing authorisation holder
Accord Healthcare Limited
Sage House
319 Pinner Road
North Harrow
Middlesex
HA1 4HF
United Kingdom
Manufacturer
Tiofarma B.V., Benjamin Franklinstraat 7-9, 3261 LW Oud-Beijerland, The Netherlands.
More information
If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist who will advise you.
Other sources of information are:
- National Eczema Society, Hill House, Highgate Hill, London N19 5NA
- The Psoriasis Association, 2 Queensbridge, Northampton, NN4 7BF
- You may also be able to find out more from books in public libraries.
This leaflet was last revised in July 2024
For information in large print, on tape, on CD or in Braille, phone +44 (0) 1895 627 420.