[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-568579-105":53,"doc-detail-568579-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","corticosteroid-topical-treatment-bpj-issue-23","Corticosteroid topical treatment - BPJ Issue 23","","Topical corticosteroids control inflammatory skin conditions by suppressing inflammation and relieving symptoms, but they are not curative and symptoms may recur after stopping. Guidance covers choosing the lowest potency that achieves control, selecting potency based on severity, skin thickness, treatment area, and avoiding use in rosacea or acne vulgaris. It explains how occlusion increases absorption and adverse effects, compares ointments, creams, and lotions, and provides fingertip-unit dosing and review strategies.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":51,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/general/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/corticosteroid-topical-treatment-bpj-issue-23/568579/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/corticosteroid-topical-treatment-bpj-issue-23/568579.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Liam","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-21","2026-10-13",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":47},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"Why should topical corticosteroids be used at the lowest potency possible?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"Using the lowest potency that controls the condition reduces the risk of adverse effects, which increase with potency and with the amount and length of time used.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"When should topical corticosteroids not be used?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"Topical corticosteroids should not be used for rosacea or acne vulgaris, as they may worsen ulcerated or secondarily infected lesions.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How do you dose topical corticosteroids using fingertip units?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"A fingertip unit represents the amount of product squeezed onto the top third of the finger. Table guidance links fingertip units to body parts and provides approximate quantities; the needed amount varies with the treatment area.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},568579,1792230166,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":50,"category_name":51,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":47,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":135,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":140,"read_time":73},8796095461564,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","[www.bpac.org. nz](www.bpac.org. nz) keyword: corticosteroid  \nTopical corticosteroid treatment for  \nKey reviewer: Dr Amanda Oakley, Specialist Dermatologist and Clinical Associate Professor, Tristram Clinic, Hamilton  \nKey concepts:  \n■ Use topical corticosteroids at the lowest potency possible to control the condition being treated  \n■ Underuse of topical corticosteroids is much more common than overuse-use a “fingertip unit” for dosing  \n■ The risk of adverse effects increases with potency and the amount and length of time used  \n8 | BPJ | Issue 23  \nTopical corticosteroids are used for many skin conditions (Table 1) . They suppress the inflammatory reaction and relieve symptoms however they are not curative and when they are discontinued symptoms can recur.1  \nTopical corticosteroids should not be used for rosacea or acne vulgaris. They may worsen ulcerated or secondarily infected lesions.1  \nWhich potency do I choose?  \nIn general use topical corticosteroids at the lowest potency possible to control the condition.  \nLow potency corticosteroids are typically used when treating large areas or for longer term application. They are also more suitable for use on children or areas of thinner skin such as the face, groin or axilla.2  \nMore potent corticosteroids are suitable for severe conditions and for use on areas of the body that have  \nthicker skin such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. They should generally not be used under occlusion or on areas of thinner skin.2  \nOcclusion increases the absorption of topical corticosteroids by increasing the hydration of the skin and therefore enhancing penetration. This needs tobe considered when selecting corticosteroid potency. Occlusive materials include polyethylene gloves, plastic film (e.g. Gladwrap) or occlusive dressings.3 Irritation, folliculitis and infection are more likely to occur under occlusion.2 Corticosteroid related adverse effects are also more likely, especially if occlusion is prolonged, because of increased absorption.  \nWhich formulation do I choose?  \nChoice of formulation depends on a number of factors, including the type of skin lesion to be treated and its location. Patient preference is important to consider because it can affect compliance.  \nTable 1: Conditions that may respond to topical corticosteroids2  \n\n| Moderate-high potency corticosteroids | Low-moderate potency corticosteroids |\n| --- | --- |\n| Alopecia areata Atopic dermatitis\u003Cbr>Contact dermatitis (severe) Discoid lupus Hyperkeratotic eczema Lichen planus\u003Cbr>Lichen sclerosus\u003Cbr>Lichen simplex chronicus\u003Cbr>Exudative nummular (discoid) eczema Psoriasis\u003Cbr>Severe hand eczema Stasis dermatitis | Perianal inflammation (severe) Asteatotic eczema\u003Cbr>Atopic dermatitis Dry nummular (discoid) eczema Intertrigo (short-term) Scabies (after scabicide) Seborrhoeic dermatitis |\n|  | Low potency corticosteroids |\n|  | Dermatitis (face, eyelids, napkin area) Intertrigo\u003Cbr>Perianal inflammation |\n\nBPJ | Issue 23 | 9  \nOintments are greasy and remain on the skin after they are applied. They are particularly suitable for use on dry, thick or lichenified skin. The potency of a corticosteroid can be affected by its formulation e.g. for any given strength of corticosteroid, an ointment formulation will be more potent than a cream. This is because the occlusive nature of anointment enhances absorption of the corticosteroid.2  \nCreams are often preferred by patients especially for use on exposed areas such as the face because they vanish when rubbed into the skin.1, 4 They are suitable for moist or weeping lesions. Creams contain more preservativesand excipients than ointments and so are more likely to cause hypersensitivity or irritation.4  \nLotions have a thin consistency, making them easier to apply to hairy areas such as the scalp.1 They contain alcohol and have a drying effect on exudative lesions, but may sting on application.  \nHow much do I prescribe?  \nUnderuse of topical corticosteroids is much","cbCaikxFJfgDtVp3","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaikxFJfgDtVp3","pdf",240749,6,"English","# Which potency do I choose?\n## Which formulation do I choose?\n# How much do I prescribe?\n## Dose using fingertip units","[{\"question\":\"Why should topical corticosteroids be used at the lowest potency possible?\",\"answer\":\"Using the lowest potency that controls the condition reduces the risk of adverse effects, which increase with potency and with the amount and length of time used.\"},{\"question\":\"When should topical corticosteroids not be used?\",\"answer\":\"Topical corticosteroids should not be used for rosacea or acne vulgaris, as they may worsen ulcerated or secondarily infected lesions.\"},{\"question\":\"How do you dose topical corticosteroids using fingertip units?\",\"answer\":\"A fingertip unit represents the amount of product squeezed onto the top third of the finger. Table guidance links fingertip units to body parts and provides approximate quantities; the needed amount varies with the treatment area.\"}]","Corticosteroid topical treatment - BPJ Issue 23 | PDF",1791871475]