Topical Corticosteroid — Moderate Potency Pregnancy: During pregnancy and lactation treatment should be performed only on the physician's order, avoiding application to large body surface areas or over a prolonged period. There is inadequate evidence of safety in human pregnancy; use only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the mother or the foetus. Breast-feeding: it is not known whether topical administration produces detectable quantities in breast milk — administer to nursing mothers only after careful benefit/risk consideration, and discontinue breast-feeding if higher doses or long-term application are indicated.

Mometasone Furoate (Topical)

Brand names: Elocon

Mometasone furoate is a potent topical corticosteroid used for inflammatory and pruritic dermatoses such as eczema and psoriasis that are responsive to corticosteroids.

Auto-extracted from the source labelling — not yet independently clinician-verified. These values were distilled from the UK SPC (or the US label where noted) but have not had a clinician sign-off. Confirm against the current SmPC before prescribing.

Adult dose

Dose: Apply a thin film of mometasone furoate 0.1% w/w cream to the affected areas of skin once daily

Route: Topical (cutaneous)

Frequency: Once daily

Quantity guide from the SPC: one fingertip unit (a line from the tip of an adult index finger to the first crease) is enough to cover an area twice the size of an adult hand. Use of topical corticosteroids in children or on the face should be limited to the least amount compatible with an effective therapeutic regimen, and duration of treatment should be no more than 5 days. The label states 'strong steroid'. Long-term continuous therapy should be avoided in all patients irrespective of age; avoid sudden discontinuation (risk of topical steroid withdrawal syndrome). If used in childhood or on the face, occlusion should not be used. Paediatric population: not recommended for use in children below 2 years of age — safety and efficacy have not been established in that age group; no per-kg dose is stated. US labelling adds: discontinue therapy when control is achieved; if no improvement within 2 weeks, reassess the diagnosis; do not use with occlusive dressings unless directed by a physician; do not apply in the diaper area if the patient still requires diapers or plastic pants; avoid use on the face, groin or axillae; safety and efficacy beyond 3 weeks not established in children aged 2 years and over.

Dose auto-extracted from UK Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) via the eMC; US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed) — cross-check; US labelling may differ from UK — not yet clinician-verified. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to mometasone furoate, to other corticosteroids, or to any of the excipients
Facial rosacea, acne vulgaris, skin atrophy, perioral dermatitis, perianal and genital pruritus, napkin eruptions
Bacterial skin infections (e.g. impetigo, pyodermas)
Viral skin infections (e.g. herpes simplex, herpes zoster and chickenpox, verrucae vulgares, condylomata acuminata, molluscum contagiosum)
Parasitic and fungal infections (e.g. candida or dermatophyte)
Varicella, tuberculosis, syphilis or post-vaccine reactions
Should not be used on wounds or on ulcerated skin

Side effects

Burning sensation, application site pain and application site reactions
Pruritus (uncommon); papular rosacea-like dermatitis
Contact dermatitis, skin hypopigmentation, hypertrichosis, skin striae, acneiform dermatitis, skin atrophy (very rare)
Topical steroid withdrawal reactions — redness that may extend beyond the initially affected area, burning or stinging, itch, skin peeling, oozing pustules
Infection, furuncle, folliculitis; blurred vision; systemic effects from absorption (HPA axis suppression, Cushing's syndrome, hyperglycaemia, glucosuria), especially in infants and children or with large surface area/occluded use

Interactions

US labelling §7: no drug-drug interaction studies have been conducted with mometasone furoate cream (the UK SPC §4.5 was not captured in this bundle)

Clinical monograph

How it works

It binds intracellular glucocorticoid receptors in the skin to produce anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and vasoconstrictive effects, reducing the inflammatory mediators driving the dermatosis.

Prescribing in practice

As a potent steroid, prolonged or extensive use — especially under occlusion, on the face or in flexures — risks skin atrophy, striae and systemic absorption, so apply thinly for the shortest effective period.
Avoid use on untreated cutaneous infections, and use with particular caution in children given their higher surface-area-to-weight ratio.
Apply once daily to the affected area and step down to less potent treatment or emollients as the condition settles.

Monitoring

Monitoring is clinical, reviewing treatment response and inspecting treated skin for local steroid effects such as thinning, telangiectasia or signs of infection.

Counselling the patient

Apply a thin layer once daily only to the affected areas, not to healthy skin.
Avoid prolonged use on the face and skin folds unless specifically advised.
Continue your emollients alongside, and review with your clinician rather than using it long term.

Evidence & guidelines

Potent topical corticosteroids such as mometasone are recommended by NICE for flares of eczema and psoriasis, using the lowest effective potency for the shortest duration.

Reference: BAD Topical Corticosteroid Guidelines; MHRA Drug Safety Update (2021) Topical Corticosteroids; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators

Pathways