Common questions about clobetasol - Brand names: Dermovate, ClobaDerm, Etrivex

Clobetasol is a steroid medicine which means it helps to reduce swelling (inflammation) in the skin.

Skin gets inflamed when an allergic reaction or irritation causes various chemicals to be released in the skin. These make blood vessels widen and the irritated skin becomes red, swollen, itchy and painful.

Clobetasol works inside the skin cells to stop the release of these chemicals. This reduces the swelling, redness and itching.

Your skin should start to get better after you've used clobetasol for a few days. You may need to use it for up to 4 weeks.

Once your skin condition has settled down your doctor will usually recommend that you stop using this medicine.

If you have been using clobetasol for a long time your doctor may advise you to gradually reduce the amount you use before stopping completely.

You can do this by using less clobetasol each time or by using it less often.

Using clobetasol continuously for a long time can mean some of the medicine gets into your bloodstream. If this happens, there's a very small chance it can cause serious side effects.

Using clobetasol for a long time can make your skin thinner or cause stretch marks. Stretch marks are likely to be permanent, but they usually fade over time.

If you're using steroid medicines such as clobetasol, your adrenal glands may not make as much of some of the hormones your body needs such as cortisol (known as the stress hormone). This is known as adrenal insufficiency.

It's more likely to happen if you take high doses for a long time (especially tablets and injections) or if you regularly use different kinds of steroids at the same time (such as a steroid nasal spray and a steroid inhaler).

Your doctor or pharmacist will assess your risk of adrenal insufficiency based on the type and dose of steroids you're taking, and may recommend that you carry a steroid emergency card (red card). This card is the size of a credit card and fits in your wallet or purse.

The Addison's Disease Self-Help Group (ADSHG) website has more information about the NHS steroid emergency card.

If you feel your symptoms are getting worse after using clobetasol for 1 week, it's important to tell a doctor.

Steroids like clobetasol reduce inflammation in the skin to help manage the symptoms of a condition. They do not cure the condition.

When the treatment is stopped, skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis can flare up again.

You can avoid this by gradually reducing the amount of clobetasol you use, or how often you use it. Do this over 1 to 2 weeks before stopping it completely.

The skin on your face is delicate and thins easily. Clobetasol can damage skin by making it thinner. Sometimes when this happens, your skin may not go back to how it was before.

Some common skin problems that affect the face, such as impetigo, rosacea and acne, can be made worse by clobetasol.

Do not use clobetasol on your face unless a doctor says it's OK. If you do use it on your face, do not cover that area with a dressing or bandage.

Never apply clobetasol near your eyes or on your eyelids.

Using clobetasol does not stop you or your child having vaccinations.

But tell the doctor or nurse that you're using clobetasol so they can give the vaccine in an untreated area of skin.

Clobetasol does not stop any type of contraception working, including the combined pill or emergency contraception.

Clobetasol does not make you sleepy so it's safe to drive or ride a bike when using this medicine.

Yes, you can drink alcohol while using clobetasol.

No, you can eat and drink normally while using clobetasol.