What is Betamethasone/Clioquinol Cream?
Betamethasone/Clioquinol Cream is applied on top of your skin to treat skin problems. It contains two medicines: Betamethasone, which is a steroid, and Clioquinol, which is an antibacterial and antifungal medication. Steroids help reduce swelling, redness, irritation and itching. Antibacterial medications kill germs that can cause an infection and antifungals kill yeast and fungus that grow on the skin. Betamethasone/Clioquinol cream is prescribed for patients with skin disease(s) who also develop serious skin infections.
What is Betamethasone/Clioquinol Cream used for?
Betamethasone/Clioquinol cream is used to treat a variety of skin problems. The most common skin problems treated include skin infections in people with psoriasis or eczema. It helps relieve redness, itching and scaling, and heals the rashes that are characteristic of psoriasis and eczema. It also treats skin infections, which may have occurred along with the psoriasis or eczema.
Betamethasone/Clioquinol cream can also be used to help people with lupus, seborrheic dermatitis, skin allergies, or infected insect bites. A genital problem, called intertrigo (related to the rubbing of skin in the genital area) may be treated with Betamethasone/Clioquinol cream.
What should you know before using Betamethasone/Clioquinol Cream?
Betamethasone/Clioquinol cream should not be used in children younger than 1 year old. If you are allergic to iodine, do not use Betamethasone/Clioquinol Cream. Do not use Betamethasone/Clioquinol Cream to treat any of the following skin problems because it may possibly make the problem worse:
- Acne or pimples
- Rosacea or redness of the face (especially the nose and cheeks)
- Red rash around the mouth (perioral dermatitis)
- Cold sores or blisters around the mouth
- Chicken pox
- Herpes blisters
- Shingles rash
- Blisters or sores on hands or feet (impetigo)
- White spots around the mouth (thrush)
- Athlete’s foot
- Ringworm (a fungal skin infection)
- Itching around the genitals or anus
Betamethasone/Clioquinol cream should not be applied under a waterproof dressing or airtight bandage. It may cause too much cream to be absorbed by the skin, leading to serious side effects.
Stop using Betamethasone/Clioquinol cream if the skin problem does not improve within 2 weeks, and call your doctor. Stop using it immediately if the skin problem worsens after treatment and call your doctor because you may be experiencing an allergic reaction to Betamethasone/Clioquinol cream.
Betamethasone/Clioquinol cream can stain hair, skin, nails, and clothes yellow. It is only for external use. Keep it away from your eyes and mouth. It is extremely flammable, so do not smoke or go near open flames while using this medication to prevent burns. Clothing, bedding, or fabric in contact with this cream can become extremely flammable.
Do not apply lotions, makeup, or other products to your skin while using Betamethasone/Clioquinol cream unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Tell your doctor about all other prescription and over-the-counter medicines, supplements, vitamins, herbals, lotions, creams, or ointments you may be using before starting this medication to prevent possible drug interactions.
Tell your doctor about any history of allergies before starting treatment with Betamethasone and Clioquinol. If you are planning to take a thyroid test, tell your doctor before starting Betamethasone/Clioquinol Cream. Always store Betamethasone/Clioquinol Cream at room temperature in a tightly closed container away from children and pets.