Dermovate Cream for Eczema: How to Apply & What to Expect
A UK patient guide to using Dermovate cream (clobetasol propionate 0.05%) for eczema: cream vs ointment, how much to apply, week-by-week results, and how to step down safely after a course.
Part of our eczema and dermatitis guide.
Get urgent help first. Call 999 or go to A&E if you have swelling of the lips, face or tongue or difficulty breathing. Contact NHS 111 or your GP the same day if eczema suddenly gets much worse with clusters of painful blisters or punched-out sores and a fever (possible eczema herpeticum), or the skin becomes hot, swollen, weeping or crusted and you feel unwell. Online treatment isn’t suitable in these situations.
Key fact: Dermovate cream contains clobetasol propionate 0.05%, a very potent steroid, in a light, water-based cream. It suits moist, weepy or freshly inflamed eczema that a potent steroid such as Betnovate hasn’t controlled. Apply it thinly once or twice a day for a short course, usually 1 to 2 weeks and never more than 4 without a review. For the full safety profile, see how Dermovate works.
Adults only online, and not in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Access Doctor’s online eczema service is for adults aged 18 and over, and can’t supply treatment if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding: your GP or midwife can help. Children with eczema should see their GP or a pharmacist.
Cream vs ointment: why formulation matters for eczema
Dermovate cream and ointment both contain clobetasol propionate 0.05%, but their bases are very different:
| Dermovate cream | Dermovate ointment | |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Water-based cream | Paraffin-based, no water |
| Feel | Light, easy to spread, not greasy | Greasy and heavier |
| Best for | Moist, weepy or freshly inflamed eczema; daytime | Dry, scaly, thickened or leathery skin |
| Penetration | Good for inflamed skin with a broken barrier | Better through thickened skin |
If your patches are dry, scaly or thickened from long-term scratching, the ointment may work better: see Dermovate ointment for dry and thickened skin. If they’re moist, weepy or freshly inflamed, Dermovate cream is the one to ask your prescriber about.
Which type of eczema does Dermovate cream suit?
Dermovate cream works best for severe eczema that a potent steroid hasn’t settled, especially when it’s:
- A severe atopic eczema flare: intensely itchy, red and sometimes weepy patches that haven’t responded to Betnovate or other potent steroids
- Discoid eczema: coin-shaped patches on the arms or legs, in the weepy phase
- Severe contact dermatitis: once the trigger has been removed
- Moist or weepy eczema: the cream base is easier on broken, weepy skin than an ointment
For an overview, see the different types of eczema. To see where Dermovate sits on the strength ladder, see our steroid cream strengths guide.
Not for infected eczema. If your eczema is weeping yellow fluid, has golden crusts or pus spots, or you feel unwell, it may be infected. Don’t use Dermovate on it: speak to a prescriber, GP or NHS 111. See our guide to steroid and antibiotic creams for infected eczema.
How to apply Dermovate cream: fingertip unit guide
1
Wash and dry the area
Gently clean the skin and pat it dry. If you also use an emollient, apply it first and leave around 30 minutes before Dermovate.
2
Measure with fingertip units
Squeeze cream along your fingertip to the first crease. One fingertip unit (about 0.5g) covers both sides of one adult hand. Use as many as the area needs, but apply thinly.
3
Apply thinly to the affected skin only
Smooth it gently over the eczema, not the clear skin around it. A thin smear is enough; it shouldn’t be visible once rubbed in.
4
Once or twice a day
Follow your prescription. Using it more often doesn’t help and raises the risk of side effects.
5
Wash your hands afterwards
Unless you’re treating your hands, so you don’t transfer it to your face or eyes.
Fingertip unit guide
| Area (adult) | Fingertip units |
|---|---|
| One hand (both sides) | 1 |
| One foot (both sides) | 2 |
| One arm (not including the hand) | 3 |
| One leg (not including the foot) | 6 |
| Front or back of the body | 7 |
No more than 50g a week from all Dermovate products combined. If the area needs more than that, talk to your prescriber: very widespread eczema may need a different treatment or a specialist.
Week-by-week results: what to expect
| When | What usually happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 2 | Less itch and heat; redness starting to settle | Carry on as prescribed |
| Days 3 to 5 | Visibly less redness and swelling; much less itch | Carry on; keep using your emollient |
| Days 7 to 10 | Flare largely controlled | Check with your prescriber whether to stop or finish the course |
| Day 14 | End of a typical short course | Stop, or step down to a weaker steroid, as advised |
| No better by day 7 | Possible wrong diagnosis, infection or not enough applied | Contact your prescriber |
How to step down after a Dermovate course
Stopping a very potent steroid suddenly after a long course can make the eczema flare back. After a Dermovate course, your prescriber may suggest:
- Switching to a weaker steroid, such as Betnovate cream, for a further 1 to 2 weeks before stopping
- Using your emollient more often while the skin recovers
- A written eczema plan, so you know what to do at the next flare
Keep using an emollient at least twice a day, even between flares. It reduces how often eczema flares and how bad it gets. See our emollients guide.
Topical steroid withdrawal. The MHRA warns that, rarely, stopping a steroid after long-term daily use can cause burning and spreading redness that looks different from your usual eczema. If your skin gets worse within 2 weeks of stopping, speak to a doctor or pharmacist before restarting it.
Severe eczema not settling with a potent steroid?
Our GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescribers can assess your eczema online and, if suitable, prescribe a very potent steroid for a short course. Adults 18 and over. Dispensed from our UK pharmacy. Approved before 3pm, Monday to Friday? Dispatched the same day, by Royal Mail Tracked 48, Tracked 24 or Special Delivery guaranteed by 1pm next working day: you choose.
Start Eczema Consultation →UK safety and reporting side effects
Dermovate is a prescription-only medicine in the UK. Before it’s prescribed, a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your consultation, including what you’ve used before and where the eczema is. It must not be used in babies under 1 year. Always read the patient information leaflet and never share a prescribed steroid.
If you think you’ve had a side effect, including a reaction after stopping a steroid, tell your pharmacist or doctor. You can also report it to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme, which helps keep medicines safe for everyone.
Dermovate from Access Doctor
How our online service supplies Dermovate: adults 18 and over only, and only if you’ve been prescribed a very potent steroid before or have a confirmed diagnosis. One 30g tube per order, for up to 4 weeks, and never for the face or genitals.
Very potent · Rx
Dermovate Cream
For moist, weepy or freshly inflamed severe eczema.
View product →Very potent · Rx
Dermovate Ointment
For dry, scaly or thickened skin.
View product →Potent · Rx
Betnovate Cream
The usual step down after a Dermovate course.
View product →Moderate · Rx
Eumovate Ointment
A further step down once the skin settles.
View product →Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dermovate cream used for in eczema?
Dermovate cream (clobetasol propionate 0.05%) is prescribed for severe or stubborn eczema flares, including atopic eczema, contact dermatitis and discoid eczema, where a potent steroid such as Betnovate hasn’t worked. The cream suits moist, weepy or freshly inflamed patches. It isn’t a long-term maintenance treatment.
How much Dermovate cream should I apply?
Apply it thinly using fingertip units: one fingertip unit, squeezed from the tip of your finger to the first crease, covers both sides of one hand. A thin smear is enough. Don’t use more than 50g a week, and wash your hands after applying it.
How long does Dermovate cream take to work on eczema?
Most people notice less redness, swelling and itch within 1 to 3 days, with clear improvement within 3 to 5 days. If there’s no improvement after 7 days, contact your prescriber to check the diagnosis, look for infection, or consider another treatment.
Can I use Dermovate cream on my face?
No, not unless a dermatologist or specialist has told you to. Facial skin is thin and more prone to steroid side effects such as thinning, thread veins and perioral dermatitis, so facial eczema is treated with milder steroids. Our online service doesn’t supply Dermovate for the face.
When should I stop using Dermovate cream?
Stop when the flare has settled and the redness, swelling and itch have clearly improved, or at the end of the prescribed course, usually 1 to 2 weeks and never more than 4 weeks without a review. Then step down to a weaker steroid or your emollient, as advised. Contact your prescriber if the eczema comes back quickly.
What is the difference between Dermovate cream and ointment?
They contain the same medicine at the same strength. The cream is water-based and light, so it suits moist, weepy or freshly inflamed eczema. The ointment is greasy and water-free, so it suits dry, thick or leathery skin, where it soaks in better.
References
- Dermovate Cream: summary of product characteristics. medicines.org.uk
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Eczema – atopic. cks.nice.org.uk
- Long CC, Finlay AY. The finger-tip unit: a new practical measure. Clin Exp Dermatol. 1991;16(6):444–447.
- MHRA. Topical corticosteroids: information on the risk of topical steroid withdrawal reactions. Drug Safety Update, September 2021. gov.uk
- NHS. Atopic eczema. nhs.uk
Medical disclaimer: This article is for information only and isn’t medical advice. Dermovate cream is a prescription-only, very potent steroid. Use it only as directed by a prescriber, and don’t apply it to the face unless a specialist advises it. In a medical emergency, call 999.