Can you use cortisone cream when pregnant

UKTIS has been providing scientific information to health care providers since on the effects that medicines, recreational drugs and chemicals may have on the developing baby during pregnancy. Corticosteroids are a group of medicines that dampen the immune response and are used to treat inflammation. Topical corticosteroids are applied to external parts of the body such as the skin as creams and ointments to treat conditions like psoriasis and eczema , the nose as drops or sprays, to treat allergies, sinusitis, and nasal polyps , and the eyes as drops or ointments, to treat allergies, eye injuries, and inflammatory eye conditions such as uveitis.

Corticosteroids that are used on the skin include alclometasone, beclomethasone, betamethasone, clobetasol, clobetasone, diflucortolone, fludroxycortide, fluocinolone, fluocinonide, fluticasone, hydrocortisone, and mometasone. Corticosteroids that are used as nasal sprays or drops include beclometasone, betamethasone, budesonide, fluticasone, mometasone, and triamcinolone.

Corticosteroids that are used as eye treatments include betamethasone, dexamethasone, fluorometholone, hydrocortisone, loteprednol, and prednisolone. Topical corticosteroids can relieve the itching, irritation, and inflammation associated with some allergic and inflammatory conditions. Their use can therefore greatly improve quality of life and may be required to prevent complications that can be caused by uncontrolled inflammation of skin and eyes.

In general, unless topical corticosteroid treatments are applied to very large areas of skin, or to damaged tissue, they are not well absorbed into the bloodstream. This usually means that they are unlikely to reach the unborn baby in large enough amounts to cause any problems. Overall, the available data does not raise concern that topical corticosteroids when used as prescribed can harm a baby in the womb.

Hydrocortisone butyrate is not normally recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Only use this treatment if a skin specialist dermatologist prescribes it and supervises your treatment. Your doctor will only prescribe hydrocortisone butyrate for you while you're pregnant or breastfeeding if the benefits of the medicine outweigh the risks.

For safety, tell your pharmacist or doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding. For more information about using hydrocortisone during pregnancy, read this leaflet about steroid creams and ointments on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy BUMPs. It's very unlikely that other medicines — either prescribed or ones you buy from a pharmacy or shop — will affect the way hydrocortisone works.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. Hydrocortisone is a steroid also called a corticosteroid. Steroids help to reduce swelling inflammation in the skin and other parts of the body. Skin gets inflamed when an allergic reaction or irritation causes chemicals to be released in the skin.

These make blood vessels widen and the irritated skin becomes red, swollen, itchy and painful. This reduces symptoms like swelling, redness and itching.

Your skin should start to get better after using hydrocortisone for a few days. For insect bites and stings , nappy rash or contact dermatitis you'll probably only need to use hydrocortisone for up to 1 week. For long-term skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis you may need to use hydrocortisone for longer. To reduce the risk of side effects your doctor may recommend that you only use hydrocortisone for a few weeks at a time.

Once your skin is better, use moisturisers to keep it from becoming inflamed again. Do not use a hydrocortisone on your face unless a doctor has told you to and given you a prescription for it. The skin on your face is delicate, so if hydrocortisone damages it, it's particularly noticeable. Some common skin problems that affect the face, such as impetigo , rosacea and acne , can be made worse by hydrocortisone. If your doctor has prescribed hydrocortisone for your face, follow their instructions carefully.

Using hydrocortisone for a long time without stopping can mean some of the medicine gets into your blood. If this happens, there's a very small chance it can cause serious side effects, such as adrenal gland problems, high blood sugar hyperglycaemia , or problems with your eyesight.

If you have been using hydrocortisone for a long time, your doctor may tell you to gradually reduce the amount you use before stopping completely. Using hydrocortisone cream does not stop you or your child having vaccinations. But tell the doctor or nurse that you're using hydrocortisone cream so they can give the vaccine in an untreated area of skin.

Hydrocortisone for skin does not affect any types of contraception, including the combined pill or the emergency contraception. Hydrocortisone does not make you sleepy, so it's safe to drive, ride a bike, or use tools and machinery when using this medicine.

Page last reviewed: 10 December Next review due: 10 December About hydrocortisone for skin Hydrocortisone skin treatments can be used to treat swelling, itching and irritation. They can help with the symptoms of: eczema psoriasis contact dermatitis prickly heat rash insect bites and stings nappy rash Most hydrocortisone skin treatments are mild and are available to buy from pharmacies.

They come as: cream ointment lotion Creams for nappy rash and other skin problems in children under 10 years old are only available on prescription.

Other types of hydrocortisone There are other ways of taking or using hydrocortisone, including tablets and injections. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? Most people need to use hydrocortisone treatments once or twice a day for 1 to 2 weeks.

But if you buy it from a pharmacy or shop, do not use it for more than 1 week, talk to a doctor first. Never put hydrocortisone on your face unless your doctor says it's OK and has given you a prescription for it. However, this may result in an itching sensation and you may be tempted to itch your body parts, particularly your tummy.

Hydrocortisone cream is an anti-itch cream that can provide you with some relief, however, topical application of hydrocortisone cream during pregnancy may not be the safest option. Hydrocortisone, cortisone, or hydrocortisone cream is a form of medication which has steroids in it, which helps treat certain skin conditions.

Hydrocortisone cream can provide relief from some skin problems like skin allergies, itching, redness, and rashes. And since this cream treats various skin conditions, it is a primary choice of medication , even among pregnant women. As the instances of suffering from eczema or dermatitis, along with swelling of the skin, redness, and rashes are high in pregnancy, and if a woman sweats during pregnancy, these skin problems might exacerbate.

A woman might be tempted to use this cream if she experiences any skin problems; however, this cream should be used only after consulting with a doctor.

Sometimes, a doctor might suggest hydrocortisone cream to a pregnant woman, depending on the condition of her pregnancy and the body part where the cream needs to be used. However, the application of any kind of topical corticosteroid should not be taken lightly. Although the hydrocortisone cream is available over-the-counter, it does not mean that you can use it on your tummy and breasts without consulting your doctor. If you have any skin problem during pregnancy, let your doctor examine your skin condition and recommend you a remedy accordingly.

Chances are your doctor will suggest you a better alternative to hydrocortisone cream. Steroids dysregulate placental hormones and probably prevent important proteins from getting to the baby, Chi told Reuters Health. Skin irritation, discoloration and thickening are common during pregnancy, and corticosteroid creams are prescribed to about six percent of pregnant women, the researchers wrote in JAMA Dermatology. Current guidelines recommend mild- or moderate-strength creams for pregnant women unless potent creams are absolutely necessary, which this study supports, Chi said.