What is Betnovate?

Betnovate is a strong topical steroid medication that can be used to treat skin inflammation conditions. It is available as a cream, ointment and lotion and is available on prescription through Access Doctor.

Betnovate is often prescribed to help relieve skin itching and inflammation associated with common skin conditions such as:

• Allergic contact dermatitis
• Atopic eczema
• Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE)
• Irritant contact dermatitis
• Lichen planus
• Neurodermatitis, eg lichen simplex
• Prurigo nodularis
• Psoriasis
• Seborrhoeic dermatitis
• Severe reaction to insect stings or bites

How Betnovate works

Betnovate contains an ingredient called betamethasone valerate, which is used as a topical corticosteroid. Betamethasone is a type of steroid that when applied topically can help to reduce skin inflammation and irritation.

Skin can become inflamed when exposed to an allergen that causes the body to release various natural chemical substances into the skin. The results can see the affected area becoming swollen, red, itchy and often painful to the touch.

By applying the Betamethasone-containing cream, gel or lotion to the affected area, the skin cells stop releasing inflammatory substances and the affected area calms down. So using Betnovate will help to reduce skin swelling, itching and redness and prevents you from scratching the area and irritating the skin further.

Betnovate cream, gel or lotion?

Depending on the location of the skin that needs treating, you can use either a cream, gel or lotion version of Betnovate.

• Cream is recommended for skin that is moist or weeping.
• The gel is more suited to areas of dry, scaly skin, such as elbows and knees and other joints.
• Lotion is easier to apply to skin that contains a lot of hair, such as your scalp, or where a large area of skin is needed to be treated.

There is also now a Betnovate scalp solution that is specially formulated to be used for dandruff and psoriasis on the scalp. Betnovate scalp solution can provide great relief from itchy scalp and as it is a transparent solution, it does not make your hair look messy or sticky.

Betnovate scalp solution contains betamethasone valerate and 50% isopropyl alcohol and is highly effective at treating inflamed skin caused by severe dandruff.

Betamethasone valerate is an anti-inflammatory, steroidal medicine. It is generally very effective against skin problems like eczema, dermatitis, rash, and allergies. It works to reduce swelling, redness, and irritation of the skin. Isopropyl alcohol is added to the solution for its antibacterial activity. The two, when combined in the solution, work best against psoriasis and severe dandruff.

Betnovate should be applied directly to the affected area of skin once or twice per day, or according to your doctor’s instructions. As soon as you see the symptoms subside and the affected area starts to improve, you should continue treatment but use it less frequently. Your doctor will be able to advise you about this and also about how much Betnovate to use at each application.

Safety precautions

Betnovate shouldn’t be applied to broken skin or where there is an infection present unless you are also receiving treatment for the infection from your doctor. You should avoid using it on your face, unless your doctor instructs you to do so, but keep it away from your eyes and eyelids.

Should you accidentally get any Betnovate in your eyes, nose or mouth, rinse the area with cold water.

Thoroughly wash your hands before and after applying Betnovate, unless you are treating the skin on your hands. The area being treated should be left exposed to the air unless your doctor instructs you to use a dressing or bandage to cover the area.

Do not use Betnovate lotion near a naked flame or near gas or electric fires as it is flammable.

Be careful to follow your doctor’s guidance and if your skin condition has not improved after two weeks of regular treatment, or has become infected, go back to your doctor for advice.

Don’t use Betnovate if you’re allergic to any of its ingredients. Check the ingredients listed in the product leaflet if you know you have specific allergies.

Betnovate cream, lotion or ointment isn’t licensed for use on children below one year of age.

Using Betnovate with other medications

Your doctor should check to see what other medications you are taking before prescribing Betnovate. Care needs to be taken should you be using any other type of corticosteroid medication. It may be necessary to stop other corticosteroid treatments before using Betnovate, but your doctor will advise you about this.

If you are using any other sort of topical treatments on the same area of skin, you may need to space out your treatments so that you avoid applying both treatments on top of each other. Your doctor will advise you about how long to leave between applying each product to allow them to be fully absorbed into your skin.

Using cosmetics and skin moisturiser

It is recommended that you allow yourself plenty of time for the Betnovate to be absorbed into your skin before applying any cosmetics or make-up. However, if you regularly use a skin moisturiser it can help to soften the skin and help to improve the absorption of the corticosteroid deeper into the skin layers.

Skin moisturiser is best applied around 30 minutes before you apply Betnovate, but if you try to apply a moisturiser just before or after applying Betnovate this will only act to make the medication less effective by diluting it down.