Mild–moderate topical corticosteroid Pregnancy: US Pregnancy Category C. Corticosteroids have been shown to be teratogenic in laboratory animals when administered systemically at relatively low dosage levels, and some are teratogenic after dermal application in animals. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women; use during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Alclometasone dipropionate

Brand names: Modrasone

Alclometasone dipropionate is a mild-to-moderate potency topical corticosteroid used for inflammatory and pruritic dermatoses such as eczema.

Auto-extracted from the source labelling — not yet independently clinician-verified. These values were distilled from the UK SPC (or the US label where noted) but have not had a clinician sign-off. Confirm against the current SmPC before prescribing.

Adult dose

Dose: Apply a thin film of alclometasone dipropionate ointment 0.05% to the affected skin areas; massage gently until the medication disappears

Route: Topical

Frequency: Two or three times daily

No UK SPC (eMC) record was fetched — figures are from the US prescribing information for alclometasone dipropionate ointment 0.05% (Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, label date 2025-08-13); verify against the UK SPC before use. As with other corticosteroids, therapy should be discontinued when control is achieved. If no improvement is seen within 2 weeks, reassessment of the diagnosis may be necessary. Should not be used with occlusive dressings unless directed by a physician, and should not be applied in the diaper area if the child still requires diapers or plastic pants as these garments may constitute an occlusive dressing. Geriatric: no dosage adjustment is recommended. Paediatric (no per-kg dose stated): may be used with caution in patients 1 year of age or older; safety and effectiveness for more than 3 weeks of use have not been established; use in patients under 1 year of age is not recommended. Because of a higher ratio of skin surface area to body mass, paediatric patients are at greater risk of HPA axis suppression and Cushing syndrome, particularly when applying to more than 20% of the body surface area. Verify any paediatric use against a children's formulary.

Dose auto-extracted from US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed) — cross-check; US labelling may differ from UK — not yet clinician-verified. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Contraindications

History of hypersensitivity to any of the components of the preparation

Side effects

Itching (reported in approximately 1% of patients)
Burning (reported in approximately 1% of patients)
Erythema (reported in approximately 1% of patients)
Folliculitis, acneiform eruptions, hypopigmentation, perioral dermatitis (reported infrequently; more frequent with occlusive dressings)
Allergic contact dermatitis, secondary infection, skin atrophy, striae, miliaria
HPA axis suppression, Cushing syndrome, linear growth retardation, delayed weight gain and intracranial hypertension reported in paediatric patients receiving topical corticosteroids

Clinical monograph

How it works

It acts on glucocorticoid receptors in the skin to exert anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictive and immunosuppressive effects, reducing redness, swelling and itch.

Prescribing in practice

Apply thinly to affected areas for the shortest effective period to limit local effects such as skin thinning and systemic absorption, especially on the face, flexures and in children.
Avoid use on untreated infected skin unless an appropriate antimicrobial is also given, as corticosteroids can mask or worsen infection.
Prolonged or extensive use under occlusion increases systemic absorption and the risk of adrenal suppression.

Monitoring

Monitor the treated skin for response and for signs of atrophy or infection with prolonged use.

Counselling the patient

Apply a thin layer only to the affected areas as directed.
Do not use continuously on the face or skin folds for long periods without review.
Report worsening, spreading or signs of skin infection.

Evidence & guidelines

Topical corticosteroids are a mainstay of eczema management, with potency and duration guided by current prescribing references.

Reference: NICE CKS Eczema – atopic; BAD topical steroid guidance; SmPC Modrasone; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators

Pathways