Mometasone is used to treat the itching, swollen and irritated skin you may get if you have eczema (different types, including atopic dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis) or psoriasis.
Mometasone skin treatments are a type of medicine known as a steroid (or corticosteroid). They're not the same as anabolic steroids.
Mometasone for skin does not cure conditions like eczema but it reduces the swelling (inflammation) in your skin to help manage your symptoms.
Mometasone skin treatments come as a cream, ointment or scalp lotion.
It's stronger than some other treatments and is usually prescribed when milder steroids, like hydrocortisone, have not worked.
Mometasone skin treatments are available on prescription only.
Mometasone also comes as an inhaler to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and a nasal spray for allergic rhinitis, hay fever and nasal polyps.
Key facts
- It's important to follow the instructions when using a steroid skin treatment. This helps to avoid side effects.
- Only use a mometasone skin treatment if your doctor prescribes it for you. Do not use someone else's medicine.
- Only use mometasone on your face if your doctor says it's OK.
- Mometasone skin treatments will not help with conditions such as acne or rosacea.
- Only use mometasone on large areas of your body or for long periods of time if your doctor says it's OK. If you use mometasone skin treatments for a long time your doctor might advise you to reduce your dose gradually to avoid withdrawal reactions.
- Mometasone should not be used on children for more than 5 days, unless a doctor says it's OK.
- You may get a blue steroid treatment card if your doctor has prescribed a very high dose of mometasone skin treatment to control your symptoms. Show this card to your doctor or dentist before any treatment, so they know you're using it. You may also need to carry a red steroid emergency card (for adults) or an adrenal insufficiency card (for children). Ask your pharmacist or doctor about both of these.