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TOPICAL MEDICATION VEHICLES

Ointment

  • Emulsion of water in oil

  • Greasy vehicle that provides enhanced penetration; occlusive, therefore don’t use on infected or oozing skin

  • #1 (most lubricating) for dry skin, hyperkeratotic, and lichenified lesions (e.g., psoriasis, lichen simplex chronicus, chronic eczema)

Cream

  • Emulsion of oil in water

  • Less moisturizing than ointments, but more cosmetically appealing

  • Useful in acute and subacute dermatoses

Gel

  • Usually alcohol-based, transparent and colorless

  • Liquefies on contact with skin

  • Nongreasy, non-occlusive, nonstaining

  • Use in hair-bearing areas or when drying is desired

Solution

  • A liquid vehicle: propylene glycol, water or alcohol

  • Useful under cosmetics, in hair-bearing regions, and when drying is desired

Lotion

  • Suspension of a powder in water; leaves a film of uniform powder on skin

  • Less moisturizing than a cream

  • Good for hair-bearing areas

Foams

  • Any area, but especially scalp

  • Easy application, with less grease/residue

Powders

  • Promote drying

  • Used in intertriginous areas to reduce moisture, friction, maceration

Paste

  • Mixture of powder and ointment

  • Ihle’s paste used for diaper and intertriginous dermatitis

TOPICAL STEROIDS

Memorize and become comfortable prescribing 1 to 2 topical steroids within each steroid potency group.

Potency*

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1 (Most Potent)

Cormax—Clobetasol propionate

0.05% (cream, ointment, solution)

Diprolene—Betamethasone dipropionate

0.05% (optimized vehicle; ointment)

Olux—Clobetasol propionate

0.05% (foam)

Psorcon—Diflorasone diacetate

0.05% (optimized vehicle; ointment)

Temovate—Clobetasol propionate

0.05% (optimized vehicle; cream, ointment)

Ultravate—Halobetasol propionate

0.05% (cream, ointment)

2

Cyclocort—Amcinonide

0.1% (ointment)

Diprolene AF—Betamethasone dipropionate

0.05% (cream)

Diprosone—Betamethasone dipropionate

0.05% (ointment)

Elocon—Mometasone furoate

0.1% (ointment)

Florone—Diflorasone diacetate

0.05% (ointment)

Halog—Halcinonide

0.1% (cream)

Kenalog—Triamcinolone acetonide

0.5% (ointment)

Lidex—Fluocinonide

0.05% (cream, gel, ointment)

Maxiflor—Diflorasone diacetate

0.05% (ointment)

Topicort—Desoximetasone

0.25% (cream, ointment), 0.05% (gel)

3

Aristocort A—Triamcinolone acetate

0.1% (ointment)

Aristocort HP—Triamcinolone acetate

0.5% (cream)

Benisone—Betamethasone benzoate

0.025% (gel)

Cutivate—Fluticasone propionate

0.005% (ointment)

Cyclocort—Amcinonide

0.1% (cream, lotion)

Diprosone—Betamethasone dipropionate

0.05% (cream)

Florone—Diflorasone diacetate

0.05% (cream)

Halog—Halcinonide

0.1% (ointment)

Lidex E cream—Fluocinonide

0.05% (cream)

Luxiq—Betamethasone valerate

1.2 mg/g (foam)

Maxiflor—Diflorasone diacetate

0.05% (cream)

Topicort LP emollient cream—Betamethasone

0.05% (cream)

Uticort—Betamethasone benzoate

0.025% (gel)

Valisone—Betamethasone valerate

0.1% (ointment)

4

Aristocort—Triamcinolone acetonide

0.1% (ointment)

Benisone—Betamethasone benzoate

0.025% (ointment)

Cordran—Flurandrenolide

0.05% (ointment)

Elocon—Mometasone furoate

0.1% (cream)

Halog—Halcinonide

0.025% (cream)

Kenalog—Triamcinolone acetonide

0.1% (ointment)

Synalar HP—Fluocinolone acetonide

0.2% (cream)

Synalar—Fluocinolone acetonide

0.025% (ointment)

Topicort LP—Desoximetasone

0.05% (cream)

Uticort—Betamethasone benzoate

0.025% (ointment)

Valisone—Betamethasone valerate

0.1% (lotion)

Westcort—Hydrocortisone valerate

0.2% (ointment)

5

Aristocort—Triamcinolone acetonide

0.25% (cream)

Benisone—Betamethasone benzoate

0.025% (cream)

Betatrex—Betamethasone valerate

0.1% (cream)

Cloderm—Clocortalone

0.1% (cream)

Cordran—Flurandrenolide

0.05% (cream)

Cutivate—Fluticasone propionate

0.05% (cream)

Dermasmoothe/FS—Fluocinolone acetonide

0.01% (oil)

Dermatop—Prednicarbate

0.1% (cream)

Diprosone—Betamethasone dipropionate

0.02% (lotion)

Fluonid—Fluocinolone acetonide

0.025% (cream)

Locoid—Hydrocortisone butyrate

0.1% (cream)

Synalar—Fluocinolone acetonide

0.025% (cream)

Uticort—Betamethasone ...

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