How strong is Eumovate oint?

[Icklestar]

Although I know youre not supposed to use steroids for long periods of time, hc1% and eumovate are okay arent they? Ive used Eumovate on  my face for about 2 years now as i constantly have psoriasis on it especially on my eyelids and forehead. But I've just been reading some stuff about steroids. Oh I dunno surely my gp would have stopped prescribing it if it was doing more harm than good? Is this why my skin is clearing up everywhere but on my face?

[Rocket]

Are you using Eumovate continually? I have been using a mild steroid cream (Alphaderm) for many years on my face without problems but I don't use it continually. When a P patch first appears I apply Alphaderm until it clears then I stop using until the next time. The peroid of use and between uses will vary but one tube of the cream will last at least a year.
Is your skin clearing elsewhere without any treatment or what treatment are you using?

[rachd]

I had a GP who was quite happy to prescribe eumovate for my face but recently I have changed GP due to moving. My new one refuses to prescribe eumovate for my face. His reason for this is although it does work Eumovate is a potent steroid. Continuous use causes thining of the skin of which the face is one of the thinest parts of the body. Using eumovate can cause the skin on the face to become thin and thread veins can become apparent. Also with any steroid if you suddenly stop using it it can cause the p to return with a vengence. Am currently using nothing for my face other than UVB.

[Rocket]

Rachd,
Eumovate is classed as a mild steroid not a potent one which is why you can buy it over the counter without prescription.

[rachd]

Only saying what my GP told me.

[SJ]

You can buy Eumovate CREAM over the counter and this is/can be different to that you are prescribed. The scrip I got for it was an ointment and stronger. Though available over the counter I have been told that it is a 'medium' strength steroid and not 'mild' as you would expect.

Though the lit in the pack tells you that it is not to be used for P OR on the face, some derms say it is OK for short periods of time, some will not prescribe it for the face at all (it being a medium steroid etc).

The problem with using steroids on the face is the old 'vicious circle'; you use it and it helps the P but as soon as you stop using it the P comes back and then you start to use it again until it doesn't make any difference to the P very much and then you are risking the side effects and, as the derms put it' 'abuse of a steroid'.

I used Eumovate with moderate success a few years back, but I was very worried about abusing it. So I stopped and let Doublebase and time take effect.

Be careful. I personally think your doc is wrong to allow you to use it for so long unchecked.

SJ

[rachd]

Thanks SJ,

I thought i had heard my GP say it was a stronger one that is prescribed rather than one that you buy over the counter but I wasn't 100% sure.

[Rocket]

According to the British National Formulary Eumovate is available as a cream and ointment (only the cream is available over the counter). Both contain 0.05% Clobetasone Butyrate and both are classed as of moderate potency.

[SJ]

I wonder if the fact the scripped version is an ointment makes it 'stronger'; not in steroid strength, but by dint it is a greasy ointment that penetrates more deeply than a cream?

Certainly Dovonex ointment is considered a better bet for stubborn p than the cream version...

SJ

[rachd]

I was always told that the difference between the cream and the ointment was that the ointment was greasier so it sits on the skin longer where as the cream soaks straight in! Derm said it was better for me to have ointment as skin was drier and this would help prevent the itching!!!!!! Not sure that that was much help!!