Dermovate Ointment for Dry Skin and Chronic Inflammation: Uses and Application Guide
When Dermovate ointment is the better choice than the cream, which dry, thickened skin conditions it suits, how to apply it, and the limits that keep it safe.
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 ointment contains clobetasol propionate 0.05%, a very potent steroid, in a greasy, water-free base. It suits dry, scaly, thickened skin, where it soaks in better than the cream. The limits are the same as the cream: no more than 50g a week and no more than 4 weeks without a review.
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.
What is Dermovate ointment?
Dermovate ointment contains clobetasol propionate 0.05% in a water-free, paraffin-based ointment. It’s a very potent steroid, the strongest of the four UK steroid strengths, and a prescription-only medicine. Generic clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointments are also available on prescription.
The ointment is the form of choice when the skin is dry, thickened, scaly or leathery from long-standing inflammation or scratching. Its greasy base helps the medicine get through thickened skin and seals in moisture at the same time. Dermovate also comes as a cream, for moist or weepy skin, and a scalp application. For the cream, see Dermovate cream for eczema.
What makes the ointment base different from cream?
The difference is the base that carries the medicine. Dermovate cream is an oil-in-water mix: it contains water, emulsifiers and preservatives, so it spreads easily and feels light. Dermovate ointment contains no water. Its base is mostly white soft paraffin, which sits on the skin as a thin protective layer.
- Seals in moisture: the paraffin film slows water loss from dry, damaged skin.
- Better penetration through thick skin: the sealing effect softens and hydrates the outer layer, helping clobetasol reach inflamed skin beneath thickened patches and scale.
- Longer contact: the base doesn’t evaporate, which is useful overnight.
- No preservatives needed: because it contains no water.
- Greasy: the trade-off is that it feels greasy and can transfer to clothes and bedding, so many people use it in the evening.
More absorption means the limits matter more. Because the ointment is more sealing than the cream, more clobetasol gets into the skin. Stick to the 50g a week maximum and the 4-week review point.
Conditions best suited to Dermovate ointment
Dermovate is licensed for psoriasis (except widespread plaque psoriasis), stubborn eczema and other inflamed skin conditions, lichen planus and discoid lupus, where a less potent steroid hasn’t worked. The ointment is usually the better form when the skin is dry and thickened rather than weepy:
- Long-standing atopic eczema with thickened, leathery skin from repeated scratching
- Localised plaque psoriasis on the body, elbows, knees, palms or soles. Not for widespread psoriasis, or the face or skin folds
- Lichen simplex: a patch of very itchy, thickened skin kept going by scratching
- Discoid eczema in its dry, scaly phase
- Eczema on the palms and soles, where the skin is too thick for a cream to work well
- Thickened, cracked hand eczema
How Dermovate works
Clobetasol propionate switches off the signals that drive inflammation inside skin cells, narrows small blood vessels and slows skin cell overgrowth. That reduces redness, swelling, itch and scaling. For the full explanation, strength comparison and side effects, see how Dermovate works.
Cream vs ointment: which should you use?
| Dermovate ointment | Dermovate cream | |
|---|---|---|
| Skin | Dry, scaly, thickened, leathery | Moist, weepy, freshly inflamed |
| Base | Paraffin-based, no water | Oil-in-water, contains water |
| Penetration | Better through thick skin | Good for inflamed skin with a broken barrier |
| Feel | Greasy; often used at night | Light; suits daytime |
| Avoid if | The skin is wet, weepy or infected | The skin is very dry, cracked or thickened |
Some people use both, the cream for a fresh flare and the ointment once the skin turns dry, but count both towards the 50g a week limit. If the cream hasn’t worked on thick skin, the ointment is often the next step. Your prescriber will advise which suits you.
Step-by-step application guide
1
Wash your hands and leave a gap after your emollient
If you use an emollient, apply it first and wait around 30 minutes before the ointment, so it doesn’t dilute the steroid.
2
Make sure the skin is clean and dry
Don’t apply it to wet, weepy, crusted or infected skin. If the area looks infected (more redness, heat, swelling, pus or crusts), speak to your prescriber first.
3
Apply a thin smear to the affected skin only
The warmth of your fingers softens the ointment so it spreads. A thin, barely visible layer is right; more doesn’t work better.
4
Smooth it in the direction of hair growth
Rubbing a greasy ointment against the hair can block follicles and cause spots.
5
Once or twice a day, as prescribed
Once a day in the evening is common. Once the skin improves, use it less often or step down to a weaker steroid.
6
Wash your hands, and don’t cover it
Wash your hands afterwards unless you’re treating them, and keep it away from your eyes. Don’t cover it with clingfilm, bandages or waterproof dressings unless a specialist tells you to, as this greatly increases absorption.
The fingertip unit and ointment
A fingertip unit (FTU) is the amount squeezed from a standard tube along an adult’s index finger, from the tip to the first crease. It’s about 0.5g and covers an area about the size of two adult hands. Ointments spread less easily, so people tend to use too much. Aim for a thin smear, not a coating.
| Area (adult) | Fingertip units | Approximate weight |
|---|---|---|
| One hand (both sides) | 1 | 0.5g |
| One foot (both sides) | 2 | 1g |
| One arm (not including the hand) | 3 | 1.5g |
| A patch on each elbow | 1 in total | 0.5g |
Lichen simplex, plaque psoriasis and discoid eczema in detail
Lichen simplex
Lichen simplex is a patch of intensely itchy skin that thickens and turns leathery from repeated scratching, often on the back of the neck, lower legs, wrists or ankles. Dermovate ointment suits it on the body because it gets through the thickened skin and helps break the itch-scratch cycle. It shouldn’t be used on the face, skin folds or around the genitals. Working on the scratching habit is also needed to stop it coming back.
Plaque psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis causes raised patches covered in silvery scale. The ointment softens the scale and helps the medicine reach the inflamed skin beneath. It’s suitable for localised plaques on the body, elbows, knees, hands and feet, but:
- Not on the face, scalp, skin folds or genitals. For the scalp, there’s a separate scalp application.
- Not for widespread plaque psoriasis, because of how much would be absorbed.
- Don’t stop suddenly after a long course. Psoriasis can flare back, and rarely turn into an unstable pustular form. Reduce it as your prescriber advises.
Very potent steroids are used in psoriasis only for short courses, alongside other treatments such as vitamin D creams, because psoriasis can rebound badly when they’re stopped. The BNF advises that they’re used in psoriasis only under specialist supervision.
Discoid eczema
Discoid eczema causes round or oval patches on the limbs and body that cycle between a weepy phase and a dry, scaly one. The ointment is best for the dry phase. In the weepy phase, the cream is better, because a greasy ointment on a weeping patch can trap fluid and raise the risk of infection.
Safety, duration and monitoring
50g
Weekly maximum, all Dermovate products combined
4 wks
Maximum course without a review
1–2×
Applications a day
Skin thinning
The most common side effect of long use is thinning skin. It can look thin, shiny or see-through, with small visible blood vessels, stretch marks or easy bruising. It’s more likely on thin skin (face, eyelids, armpits, groin), under a covering, beyond 4 weeks, and in older people. If you notice these changes, stop and contact your prescriber. Skin often recovers partly, but stretch marks are usually permanent.
Infected skin
Don’t use Dermovate ointment on infected skin. A steroid weakens the skin’s local defences and can make bacterial, viral or fungal infections worse. Signs include increasing pain, heat, swelling, pus, golden crusts or a fever. Eczema herpeticum, a herpes infection spreading across eczema, is an emergency. If eczema is infected, a prescriber may use one of the steroid and antibiotic creams instead.
Effects on the rest of the body
Rarely, enough clobetasol is absorbed to affect the body’s own steroid hormones, causing weight gain or a rounded face, or problems when stopping after long use. The risk rises with large areas, coverings, use beyond 4 weeks and in children. Dermovate must not be used in babies under 1 year.
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 skin condition. If your skin gets worse within 2 weeks of stopping, speak to a doctor or pharmacist before restarting it.
When to contact your prescriber
- No real improvement after 2 to 4 weeks of correct use
- Signs of thinning skin, thread veins or stretch marks
- Any sign of infection
- Unusual weight gain, tiredness or other whole-body symptoms
- Before using it on a new part of the body
- If you need it for longer than 4 weeks, or more often than prescribed
Thick, stubborn eczema not settling?
Our GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescribers can assess your skin 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 skin problem is. Always read the patient information leaflet and never share a prescribed steroid.
Clothing and bedding with ointment on them burn more easily, even after washing. Don’t smoke or go near naked flames while using it.
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.
Getting Dermovate ointment online via Access Doctor
Dermovate ointment can only be supplied with a prescription. Complete our online consultation with details of your skin condition, its history and what you’ve tried; a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber reviews it and either prescribes or contacts you for more information.
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. Repeat orders are reassessed each time.
Very potent · Rx
Dermovate Ointment
Clobetasol propionate 0.05% in a paraffin base, for dry, scaly or thickened skin.
View product →Very potent · Rx
Dermovate Cream
Clobetasol propionate 0.05% cream, for moist, weepy or freshly inflamed eczema.
View product →Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dermovate ointment used for?
Dermovate ointment treats severe, stubborn inflamed skin conditions where the skin is dry, scaly or thickened. These include long-standing eczema with thickened skin, lichen simplex, localised plaque psoriasis, discoid eczema in its dry phase, and eczema on the palms and soles. It’s a very potent, prescription-only steroid, used when a less potent steroid hasn’t worked.
Is Dermovate ointment stronger than the cream?
Both contain the same amount of clobetasol propionate, 0.05%. But the ointment’s greasy, water-free base helps more of it soak into the skin, so it can work better on thick skin. The same limits apply to both: no more than 50g a week, and no more than 4 weeks without a review.
When should I use Dermovate ointment instead of cream?
Choose the ointment when the skin is dry, scaly or thickened, as in long-standing eczema, plaque psoriasis, lichen simplex, eczema on the palms and soles, or discoid eczema in its dry phase. The cream suits moist, weepy or freshly inflamed skin. If the cream hasn’t worked on thick skin, the ointment is often the next step.
How do I apply Dermovate ointment correctly?
Wash your hands and make sure the skin is clean and dry. Apply a thin smear to the affected skin only, using about one fingertip unit for an area the size of two adult hands, and smooth it in the direction of hair growth. Use it once or twice a day as prescribed, wash your hands afterwards, don’t cover it unless a specialist advises it, and don’t use more than 50g a week.
How long can I use Dermovate ointment?
No more than 4 weeks without a review, and no more than 50g a week from all Dermovate products combined. If your skin hasn’t improved after 4 weeks of correct use, contact your prescriber rather than carrying on. Long use without a review raises the risk of thinning skin and other side effects.
Can I use Dermovate ointment on psoriasis?
Yes, for localised plaque psoriasis on the body, elbows, knees, palms and soles. It must not be used on the face, skin folds or genitals, or for widespread plaque psoriasis. Use it only for short courses: the BNF advises very potent steroids in psoriasis are used under specialist supervision, because psoriasis can flare back badly when they’re stopped. Follow your prescriber’s advice on reducing it.
Can I use Dermovate ointment under clothing or wraps?
Not under wraps, clingfilm, bandages or waterproof dressings unless a specialist has told you to. Covering it greatly increases how much is absorbed, raising the risk of thinning skin and effects on the body’s own steroid hormones. Normal loose clothing over the treated skin is fine once it has soaked in.
What are the risks of using Dermovate ointment long-term?
Long or heavy use can cause thinning skin, stretch marks, visible blood vessels and a higher chance of skin infection. Rarely, with large areas, coverings or long courses, it can affect the body’s own steroid hormones, especially in children. Using the smallest amount for the shortest time, with a review before 4 weeks, keeps the risks low.
References
- Dermovate Ointment: summary of product characteristics. medicines.org.uk
- Joint Formulary Committee. British National Formulary: clobetasol propionate. bnf.nice.org.uk
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Psoriasis. cks.nice.org.uk
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Eczema – atopic. cks.nice.org.uk
- MHRA. Topical corticosteroids: information on the risk of topical steroid withdrawal reactions. Drug Safety Update, September 2021. gov.uk
- DermNet. Lichen simplex. dermnetnz.org
Medical disclaimer: This article is for information only and isn’t medical advice. Dermovate ointment is a prescription-only, very potent steroid. Don’t start, stop or change treatment without speaking to a healthcare professional. In a medical emergency, call 999.