Topical corticosteroids are sold under a variety of brand names that include Cortizone-10, Cortaid, Salacort, NuCort, Ivy Soothe, Locoid, Delacort, Hydrozone Plus, Cotacort and others. Some are prescription-strength medicines available with permission of your doctor, while others are available over the counter. As topical medications, they may be administered as a lotion, spray, gel, paste, foam or ointment. In general, they are used to relieve symptoms such as the discomfort, itching, swelling and redness associated with skin conditions.
Dermatitis
Dermatitis is a skin inflammation that can come in the forms of eczema or atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis or seborrheic dermatitis. Dermatitis produces itching and swelling areas of the skin that are red. Because it is a rash, the Mayo Clinic states the best treatment is to figure out what is the cause and then avoiding that cause. However, topical corticosteroids also may be used to reduce the symptoms of the condition.
Folliculitis
If the follicles of your hair contract an infection, such as staphylococcus aureus or some other form of bacteria, you have folliculitis. This can be severe and cause you to get scars on your scalp or lose your hair permanently. Lesser infections just cause irritation. The type of this condition that is treated with topical corticosteroids is called eosinophilic folliculitis. Eosinophilic folliculitis often is associated with human immunodeficiency virus and manifests on the upper portion of your body. Topical corticosteroids may be prescribed in addition to an oral corticosteroid course of treatment for a short time.
Psoriasis
Your doctor may prescribe a topical corticosteroid as part of the treatment of psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition, the Mayo Clinic states. Skin cells rapidly grow into scales that are red and dry that cause itching and pain. It may appear as patches of red. Because corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medications, they can be used for moderate or mild forms of the disease. They decrease the rate at which skin cells build up. They may be applied as ointments for some areas of the body and as liquids or foams for the scalp.
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a condition in which your skin may lose its normal coloring to be replaced by white patches. According to the Mayo Clinic, using topical corticosteroids may help your coloring to return if they are applied soon after early diagnosis.
