Can betamethasone be used anywhere on the body?

Unless directed by your provider, avoid using betamethasone on the face, groin, armpit, or areas where the skin has been thinned out. Also, avoid the scalp if you're using the [Sernivo spray](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=b1b3d1b0-da9b-11eb-ad76-0800200c9a66). The skin in these areas are thinner and are more sensitive, so there is a higher risk of side effects or irritation. Only apply betamethasone on the outside of your skin. Don't put it in your eyes or genitals.

Can I use a bandage or other wrapping materials to cover the area?

No, you shouldn't use anything to cover the treated area. Doing so can cause your body to [absorb more medication](https://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/0115/p135.html) and you could develop more side effects, such as skin irritation.

What's the difference between betamethasone dipropionate and betamethasone valerate?

Betamethasone dipropionate and betamethasone valerate are different chemical forms of the steroid medication betamethasone. These two chemical forms of betamethasone differ in how [potent](https://www.goodrx.com/classes/corticosteroids/topical-steroid-potency-chart) (strong) they are to treat your skin condition. Betamethasone dipropionate is generally stronger than betamethasone valerate. These two chemical forms of betamethasone also differ in the dosage formulations (e.g., cream, ointment, spray) they come in.

betamethasone dipropionate

Generic Diprolene

Used for Eczema, Itching, Psoriasis, Skin Allergy

Betamethasone is a potent (strong) medication used to relieve the inflammation (redness, swelling, warmth, pain) and itching from different skin conditions. This medication is available as many different formulations, but most can only be used for up to 2 weeks at a time.

Reviewed by:

Yen Nguyen, PharmD

Allison Gourley, PharmD

Last reviewed on April 27, 2022

What is Betamethasone?

What is Betamethasone used for?

Inflammation and itchy skin conditions
Mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis in people 18 years or older - Sernivo brand only

How Betamethasone works

Betamethasone is a corticosteroid. It provides relief for certain skin conditions by lessening the release of chemicals in your body that cause swelling and inflammation.

Are you looking for information on Taclonex, Enstilar (calcipotriene / betamethasone) instead?

When does Betamethasone start working?Time passed since treatment started:

HOURS

DAYS

Initial effect

WEEKS

Full effect

MONTHS

Drug facts

Common Brands	Diprolene, Luxiq, Sernivo
Drug Class	Corticosteroid
Controlled Substance Classification	Not a controlled medication
Generic Status	Lower-cost generic available
Availability	Prescription only

Common Brands

Diprolene, Luxiq, Sernivo

Drug Class

Corticosteroid

Controlled Substance Classification

Not a controlled medication

Generic Status

Lower-cost generic available

Availability

Prescription only

More on Betamethasone essentials

Two ointments tubes next to each other.
Wako Megumi/iStock via Getty Images

Augmented vs. Regular Betamethasone: What’s the Difference?

Written by Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Side effects of Betamethasone

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

Burning or stinging of the skin
Itchy skin
Skin irritation
Dry skin
Skin redness

Less Common Side Effects

Inflamed hair follicles
Small acne-like bumps
Lightening of the skin color
Skin broken down by moisture
Thinning of the skin
Stretch marks
Skin infection
Red rash around the mouth
Heat rash
Allergic skin rash

Betamethasone serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

Allergic reactions: skin rash, fluid-filled blisters, really itchy skin
Eye problems: blurry vision, changes to eyesight

When do Betamethasone possible side effects begin and end?

Time passed since treatment started:

MMINUTES

HHOURS

DDAYS

WWEEKS

MMONTHS

Burning or stinging of the skin

Itchy skin

Skin irritation or redness

Dry skin

Source: DailyMed

The following Betamethasone side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Burning or stinging

itching at the application site

Less common

Blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin

cracking or tightening of the skin

dry skin

flushing or redness of the skin

irritation

itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin

thinning of the skin with easy bruising, especially when used on the face or where the skin folds together (eg, between the fingers)

unusually warm skin

Rare

Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

Incidence not known

Blindness

blurred vision

change in vision

decreased vision

eye pain

headache

loss of vision

nausea

redness and scaling around the mouth

tearing

vomiting

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

Raised, dark red, or wart-like spots on the skin, especially when used on the face

Rare

Burning, itching, and pain in hairy areas, or pus at the root of the hair

Incidence not known

Acne or pimples

burning and itching of the skin with pinhead-sized red blisters

increased hair growth on the forehead, back, arms, and legs

lightening of normal skin color

lightening of treated areas of dark skin

reddish purple lines on the arms, face, legs, trunk, or groin

softening of the skin

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See more Betamethasone side effects

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Avg retail price

$56.02(Save 72.99%)

$15.13

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Pros and cons of Betamethasone

Pros

Available as different formulations (creams, ointments, gels, lotions, sprays, and foams)
Certain forms can be used in both children and adults.
Most available as a lower-cost generic medication

Cons

Can affect hormone levels
Can't be applied to sensitive areas like the face, groin, or armpit
Most products can't be used for longer than 2 weeks at a time.

Pharmacist tips for Betamethasone

Only use betamethasone as directed by your provider and for the skin condition they prescribed it for. This medication might not work for all skin problems.
Apply betamethasone to the outside of your skin only. Don't apply it in your eyes or genitals.
Wash your hands after each time you apply betamethasone.
Don't use more than one corticosteroid-containing medication(s) at one time without talking to your provider, because it can raise your risk of side effects.
Let your provider know if you experience any skin irritation, side effects, or vision changes.
If you're applying betamethasone on your child's diaper area, don't use tight-fitting diapers or plastic pants to avoid skin irritation.
Sernivo spray: Shake the bottle well before using. Throw the medication bottle away after 4 weeks to make sure that you aren't using it for longer than directed.
Betamethasone foam for the scalp: Make sure you turn the can upside down to get the medication out, and dispense the medication onto a saucer or other cool, clean surface. Don't put the foam directly onto your hands, because it can start melting into your hands before you can use it. Once the medication is out on a surface, pick up small amounts with your fingers and gently massage into the affected area until the foam disappears. Repeat the process for the entire affected scalp area. Don't wash the treated area right after applying the foam.
The betamethasone foam is flammable and can catch on fire, so keep the medication away from fire, open flame, or direct heat. Don't smoke while using or holding the can.
Let your provider know if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It's not known if betamethasone can harm your unborn baby. Using a large amount of certain formulations of betamethasone, like the augmented forms and Sernivo spray, or using them for a long period of time during pregnancy can raise the risk of low birth weight in infants. If you have to use this medication while pregnant, apply it on the smallest area of the skin and use for the shortest period of time possible. Discuss with your provider about the risks and benefits of using betamethasone while pregnant.
It's not known if this medication can pass into your breastmilk, so discuss the risks with your provider before breastfeeding. If you have to use betamethasone while breastfeeding, don't apply it directly on the nipple and areola (skin around the nipple).

Common questions about Betamethasone Dipropionate

For most formulations of Betamethasone Dipropionate, you can use it for up to 2 weeks in a row, unless your provider tells you otherwise. For the Sernivo spray, you can use it for up to 4 weeks. Let your provider know if your skin condition doesn't get better after 2 weeks (or 4 weeks for Sernivo). They will determine if you should continue or change your treatment plan. Stop using Betamethasone Dipropionate once your skin condition is under control.

Unless directed by your provider, avoid using Betamethasone Dipropionate on the face, groin, armpit, or areas where the skin has been thinned out. Also, avoid the scalp if you're using the Sernivo spray. The skin in these areas are thinner and are more sensitive, so there is a higher risk of side effects or irritation. Only apply Betamethasone Dipropionate on the outside of your skin. Don't put it in your eyes or genitals.

No, you shouldn't use anything to cover the treated area. Doing so can cause your body to absorb more medication and you could develop more side effects, such as skin irritation.

Betamethasone Dipropionate dipropionate and Betamethasone Dipropionate valerate are different chemical forms of the steroid medication Betamethasone Dipropionate. These two chemical forms of Betamethasone Dipropionate differ in how potent (strong) they are to treat your skin condition. Betamethasone Dipropionate dipropionate is generally stronger than Betamethasone Dipropionate valerate. These two chemical forms of Betamethasone Dipropionate also differ in the dosage formulations (e.g., cream, ointment, spray) they come in.

The augmented formulations are made to absorb through the skin faster and better. This means they're stronger and work faster than regular formulations of Betamethasone Dipropionate. Augmented Betamethasone Dipropionate isn't approved for young children. The amount of medication they absorb might be too much for their body, so they're at a higher risk of hormone changes and skin irritation.

Speak with your provider to get the best formulation for you or your child, because certain forms can't be used in children. Betamethasone Dipropionate dipropionate lotion and most of the augmented formulations are only approved for children 13 years of age or older. The augmented gel formulation is only approved for children 12 years of age or older.

Risks and warnings for Betamethasone

Betamethasone can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

Changes in hormone levels

Risk factors: Using potent (strong) corticosteroids | Using betamethasone for a long time | Using betamethasone on a large area | Covering the treated area | Using on damaged skin | Liver failure | Children

Betamethasone can pass through your skin and cause changes to your body's hormone levels, especially if this medication is used for a long period of time or used over a large area. Covering the treated area can affect hormone levels as well. Although this problem is reversible, hormone changes can include glucocorticosteroid (or adrenal) insufficiency, a condition called Cushing's syndrome, high blood sugar, and sugar in the urine. Children are at higher risk of experiencing these effects, because their body might be too small to handle the amount of medication that gets absorbed. Rarely, hormone changes in children due to topical betamethasone can lead to slow growth and delayed weight gain. In general, hormone changes from betamethasone can happen during your treatment or after you stop using the medication. Depending on your usage, your provider might monitor your hormone levels often.

Eye problems

Certain formulations of betamethasone, such as the augmented forms and Sernivo spray, might raise the risk of eye problems like cataracts and glaucoma. Avoid getting betamethasone in your eyes. Let your provider know right away if you have blurry vision or changes to your eyesight.

Skin infections

Although rare, betamethasone might weaken your immune system and raise your risk of getting infections. If you experience a skin infection while using betamethasone, speak to your provider to get the appropriate treatment for the infection. If your infection doesn't improve, your provider might temporarily stop betamethasone until your infection clears up.

Allergic skin reactions

Betamethasone might cause an allergic reaction and prevent your skin from healing properly, especially after a cut or wound. Let your provider know if you experience any skin irritation while using betamethasone.

Betamethasone dosage

The average cost for 1 tube of 45g of 0.05% of Betamethasone is $31.16 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 65.17% off the average retail price of $89.46.

Bottle of lotion

Dosage	Quantity	Price as low as	Price per unit
60ml of 0.05%	1 bottle	$18.40	$18.40

Tube of cream

Dosage	Quantity	Price as low as	Price per unit
45g of 0.05%	1 tube	$31.16	$31.16
15g of 0.05%	1 tube	$18.33	$18.33

Tube of ointment

Dosage	Quantity	Price as low as	Price per unit
45g of 0.05%	1 tube	$31.12	$31.12
15g of 0.05%	1 tube	$15.13	$15.13

See more Betamethasone dosage

Interactions between Betamethasone and other drugs

Betamethasone may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Betamethasone. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

See more Betamethasone interactions