[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-568575-105":53,"doc-detail-568575-en":118},{"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":111,"head_meta":113,"extra_data":115,"updated_unix":117},105,"en","topical-corticosteroids-product-selection-use-potency-vehicle-and-concentration","Topical Corticosteroids - Product Selection & Use - Potency, Vehicle, and Concentration","","Topical corticosteroids are widely used for inflammatory skin disorders, with treatment success depending on steroid responsiveness, potency, formulation, application frequency, and cost. The guide explains a 7-group potency system and emphasizes selecting the lowest potency that controls disease, using lower potency on thin areas and in young children or when long-term treatment is needed, while reserving higher potency for resistant lesions and poorer-penetration sites. It compares ointments, creams, gels, and lotions by occlusion and suitability, then discusses concentration effects, hydration and occlusion to increase absorption, and key safety risks tied to potency, duration, frequency, and body area.",{"@graph":63,"@context":110},[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/topical-corticosteroids-product-selection-use-potency-vehicle-and-concentration/568575/",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/topical-corticosteroids-product-selection-use-potency-vehicle-and-concentration/568575.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Ezra","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-22","2026-10-13",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":79},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"How do hydration and occlusion affect absorption and potency?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"Applying to hydrated skin after bathing can increase absorption by 4–5 times, and occlusion can increase absorption by up to 10 times. Short-term occlusion may help severe lesions, with plastic occlusion limited to a maximum of 12 hours per 24-hour period.","Answer","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":112,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":114,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":116,"site_id":56},568575,1792090594,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":119},{"doc_id":116,"user_id":120,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":121,"doc_module":9,"category_id":50,"category_name":51,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":122,"file_id":123,"file_url":124,"file_type":125,"file_size":126,"view_count":79,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":76,"language":127,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":128,"faqs":129,"seo_title":130,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":131,"read_time":9},1099514068035,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","Topical Corticosteroids  \nMay, 1998 iii  \nTopical corticosteroids are widely used in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions. There are over 20 agents to choose from, and an abundance of formulations. Optimal therapy involves careful consideration of the disease’s steroid responsiveness, as well as the potency, formulation, application frequency, and cost of the topical steroid.  \nPRODUCT SELECTION & USE  \nPotency: Groups 1 – 7  \nTopical corticosteroids are classified according to their relative potencies. Seven potency categories (Group 1=Ultra high potency and Group 7=Lowest potency) have been used and described in Tables 3 and 4. 1,2 Higher potency agents exert a greater anti-inflammatory activity and carry a greater risk of side effects. Optimizing therapy involves choosing the agent with the lowest potency, which will control the skin condition. Lower potency products are preferred on areas where penetration is high such as the groin, the axillae, and the face. They are also recommended in young children, infants, and the elderly who are more prone to local and systemic side effects. These agents are usually preferred in patients who require long term therapy or application to large areas.3  \nHigher potency agents are indicated in areas with chroniclesions (plaque psoriasis, lichen simplex, and discoid lupis erythematosus) and areas where skin penetration is poor (such as the elbows, knees, palms, soles) .3 After initial control is obtained, maintenance therapy with a lower potency agent is often advisable. Occlusive dressings should be avoided when using Ultra-potent agents.4  \nVehicle  \nOintments are more potent and effective than other formulations due to their natural occlusive nature. Ointments are generally preferable in dry, brittle, fissured, scaly, or hyperkeratinized skin areas. They are more effective in treating chronic lesions (psoriasis) . They should not be used in areas such as the axilla, groin, or skin folds as their occlusive effect may cause maceration, folliculitis and potential systemic side effects.5 Ointments are particularly useful in young children with infantile atopic dermatitis where dryness of the skin is a particular problem.  \nCreams are often preferred for non-acute dermatoses as they are cosmetically more acceptable. Proper application requires rubbing fully into the skin in such a way that a residue is not visible after application. Some patients with chronic  \n\n|  Highlights  |\n| --- |\n| • Topical corticosteroids have been classified into 7 potency groups: (Group 1 = Ultra High Potency, and Group 7 = Lowest Potency) .\u003Cbr>• Higher potency drugs are useful in more resistant conditions and thick skin areas. Caution should be taken to minimize the potential for side effects.\u003Cbr>• Lower potency drugs are generally preferred on thin skin areas, in young children & infants, and where long term use is required. Many conditions can be managed with low or mid potency agents.\u003Cbr>• A step-down approach from higher to lower potency agents, less frequent application, or to non-steroid emollients is often useful for maintenance therapy.\u003Cbr>• Ointments cause more occlusion and are more effective in dry & hyperkeratinized skin conditions.\u003Cbr>• Relatively low-cost creams/ointments per potency group Ultra-High: Clobetasol propionate (Dermovate􀀁) High: Betamethasone dipropionate (Diprosone􀀁) Mid: Betamethasone valerate (Betaderm􀀁) Low: Hydrocortisone (Cortate􀀁) |\n\nconditions may benefit from application of creams during the day, followed by ointments at night to maximize efficacy.  \nGels are non-greasy, non-occlusive, non-staining, and quick drying. They are most useful when applied to hairy or facial areas where residue from a vehicle is unacceptable. Caution is warranted if used on the face as most products are potent. Lotions are the least occlusive type of base. They are useful when large skin areas or skin flexures are affected. They are most useful in conditions where there is acute inflammatio","cbCaisqheKB1sjjR","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaisqheKB1sjjR","pdf",39260,"English","# Product Selection & Use\n## Potency: Groups 1–7\n## Vehicle\n## Concentration, Hydration/Occlusion\n# Comparative Safety","[{\"question\":\"How do hydration and occlusion affect absorption and potency?\",\"answer\":\"Applying to hydrated skin after bathing can increase absorption by 4–5 times, and occlusion can increase absorption by up to 10 times. Short-term occlusion may help severe lesions, with plastic occlusion limited to a maximum of 12 hours per 24-hour period.\"}]","Topical Corticosteroids - Product Selection & Use - Potency, Vehicle, and Concentration | PDF",1791871468]