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Bedfordshire and Luton Joint Formulary
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB
Formulary Chapter: 13 - Skin 
Notes:

Any drug not listed on the Formulary should be considered Non-Formulary - Not recommended for prescribing

13.04 Topical corticosteroids

Betamethasone (as Valerate) 0.025%
(Cream & ointment)

First Choice

Moderately Potent

Betamethasone (as Valerate) 0.1% (Betnovate®)
(Cream, ointment & lotion)

First Choice

Potent

Clobetasone Butyrate 0.05% (Eumovate®®)
(Cream & ointment)

First Choice

Moderately Potent

Beclomethasone Dipropionate 0.0025% w/w in WSP BP
(ointment and cream)

Formulary

Mild steroid

used for severe and resistant atopic eczema in children. For once or twice daily application, usually under wet wraps. Unlicensed included on BAD specials list.

Formerly known as Propaderm 1 in 10.

Betamethasone (as Dipropionate) with Salicylic Acid (Diprosalic®)

Formulary

Diprosalic® 0.05% w/w / 3% w/w Ointment

Diprosalic® Scalp Application 0.05% w/w / 2% w/w, cutaneous solution
 
Potent steroid

Salicylic acid is a useful descaling agent for psoriasis where thick scales are present

Entry reviewed: May 2023

Betamethasone (as Valerate) 0.1% with Clioquinol (Generic)
(Cream & ointment)

Formulary

Potent

Betamethasone (as Valerate) 0.1% with Fucidic Acid 2% (Fucibet®)
(Cream)

Restricted Drug Restricted

Potent

Betamethasone scalp application (Betacap®, Betnovate®)

Formulary

First line therapy for scalp psoriasis

 

Entry reviewed: May 2023

Clobetasol Propionate 0.05% (Dermovate®)
(Cream & ointment)

Formulary

Very Potent

Clobetasol propionate shampoo (Etrivex®)

Formulary

Very potent

Licensed for topical treatment of moderate scalp psoriasis in adults where other agents have failed.

Entry reviewed: May 2023

Clobetasol Propionate with neomycin and nystatin (Dermovate-NN®)
(Cream & ointment)

RED
Restricted Drug Restricted

Very potent

Clobetasone butyrate with nystatin & oxytetracycline (Trimovate®)
(Cream)

Formulary

Moderately Potent

Now available again

Fludroxycortide 4 micrograms per square centimeter (Tape)

Formulary

Only for use in the following:
1. Wound care - only to be used for over granulation tissue on wounds/ulcers for 5 days and then review.
2. Eczema - for skin cracks/fissures in areas difficult to treat with conventional methods eg. hands and feet.
3. Painful keloid scars.

Entry reviewed May 2025

Fluocinolone Acetonide 0.0025% (Synalar 1 in 10 Dilution®)
(Cream & ointment)

Formulary

Mild

Fluocinolone Acetonide 0.00625% (Synalar 1 in 4 Dilution®)
(Cream & ointment)

Formulary

Moderately Potent

Fluocinolone Acetonide 0.025% (Synalar®)
(Cream & ointment)

Formulary

Very Potent

Hydrocortisone 0.5% / chlorhexidine 1%/ Nystatin (Generic)
(Cream)

Formulary

Mild

Formerly Nystaform-HC®. Must prescribe generically.

Hydrocortisone 0.5%, 1%
(Cream & ointment)

Formulary

Mild

 

NB: 2.5% strength is very high cost - Do not prescribe

Hydrocortisone 1% with Clotrimazole 1% (Canesten HC®)
(Cream)

Formulary

Mild

Hydrocortisone Acetate 1% with Fusidic Acid 2% (Fucidin H®)
(Cream)

Formulary

Mild

Mometasone Furoate 0.1% (generic)
(Cream & ointment)

Formulary

Formerly Elocon® brand. Must prescribe generically.

Potent

Timodine®
(Cream)

Formulary

Mild

Hydrocortisone with benzalkonium chloride, dimeticone and nystatin.

Continence team initiation.

 

Non formulary items

Alclometasone Dipopionate (Modrasone®)

 
Non Formulary

Betamethasone (as Dipropionate) 0.05% (Diprosone®)

 
Non Formulary

Betamethasone Esters (Betesil®)

 
Non Formulary

Betamethasone Esters (Bettamousse®)

 
Non Formulary

Diflucortolone Valerate 0.1% (Nerisone®)

 
Non Formulary

Flucinolone Acetonide 0.025% with Neomycin Sulphate 0.5% (Synalar N®)

 
Non Formulary

Flucinonide 0.05% (Metosyn®)

 
Non Formulary

Flucortolone (Ultralanum Plain®)

 
Non Formulary

Fluticasone Propionate (Cutivate®)

 
Non Formulary

Hydrocortisone (Dioderm®)

 
Non Formulary

Hydrocortisone (Efcortelan®)

 
Non Formulary

Hydrocortisone (Hydromol® HC Intensive)

 
Non Formulary

Hydrocortisone (Mildison®)

 
Non Formulary

Hydrocortisone 1% with Miconazole Nitrate 2% (Daktacort®) (Ointment)

 
Non Formulary

Discontinued

Entry reviewed: August 2024

Hydrocortisone 1%, Clioquinol 3% (Vioform-Hydrocortisone®)

 
Non Formulary

Hydrocortisone 1%, Urea 10% and Lactic Acid 5% (Calmurid HC®)

 
Non Formulary

Hydrocortisone Butyrate (Locoid Crelo®)

 
Non Formulary

Hydrocortisone Butyrate (Locoid®)

 
Non Formulary

Hydrocortisone Butyrate 0.1% with Chlorquinaldol 3% (Locoid C®)

 
Non Formulary

Hydrocortisone with antimicrobials (Econacort®)

 
Non Formulary

Triamcinolone Acetonide 0.1% with Chlortetracycline Hydrochloride 3% (Aureocort®)

 
Non Formulary

Triamcinolone with antibacterial (Otocomb Otic®)

 
Non Formulary
13.04 Topical corticosteroid preparation potencies
Classifications
May be initiated in any care setting
Specialist to advise therapy and provide first 28 days supply, continuation in Primary Care
Specialist to initiate and stabilise medicine prior to continuation in Primary Care
To be prescribed as per Shared Care Guidance. If no SCG in place status reverts to red.
Red medicines are designated as specialist only medicines which should only be prescribed by a specialist, usually within secondary care (either due to the requirement for specialist knowledge, long-term monitoring requirements, or restrictions that mean medicine supplies are only available to hospitals).
A decision has been made either locally and/or nationally not to routinely commission this preparation. Do not prescribe.
To be purchased over the counter. May be prescribed for chronic, long term conditions or on admission to hospital if essential.