halcinonide
Halcinonide (Halog) is a prescription topical steroid. It's used to treat many types of inflammatory and itchy skin conditions. Halcinonide (Halog) is applied directly to the skin 2 or 3 times per day. This medication comes as a cream and topical solution. Side effects aren't common, but can include skin burning and irritation.
What is Halcinonide (Halog)?
What is Halcinonide (Halog) used for?
Inflammatory and itchy skin conditions
How Halcinonide (Halog) works
Halcinonide (Halog) is a topical steroid. It blocks certain substances in the body that cause inflammation, which can lead to symptoms like swelling, redness, and itching. This helps treat flare-ups in certain skin conditions.
Drug Facts
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What are the side effects of Halcinonide (Halog)?
Common Side Effects
- Burning
- Itching
- Irritation
- Dryness
Other Side Effects
- Inflamed hair follicles
- Excess hair growth
- Acne or pustules
- Lighter skin color
- Skin inflammation around the mouth
- Eczema (allergic irritation)
- Infection
- Skin thinning
- Stretch marks
- Heat rash
Source: DailyMed
The following 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:
Incidence not known
Blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin
irritation
itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin
redness and scaling around the mouth
thinning of the skin with easy bruising, especially when used on the face or where the skin folds together (e.g. between the fingers)
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:
Incidence not known
burning and itching of the skin with pinhead-sized red blisters
burning, itching, and pain in hairy areas, or pus at the root of the hair
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.
Pros and cons of Halcinonide (Halog)
Pros
High-potency steroid that's useful for many different types of more severe skin conditions
Fewer side effects compared to oral steroids
Available as a cream and topical solution
Cons
Available by prescription only
Need to apply up to 3 times per day
Not meant for long-term use due to the risk of side effects
Pharmacist tips for Halcinonide (Halog)
Halcinonide (Halog) is a high-potency corticosteroid. Your dermatologist will recommend that you apply the least amount of medication possible over the affected area(s) for the shortest amount of time. This helps avoid side effects, such as skin thinning and irritation, which might be more likely to happen with stronger steroids.
You shouldn't use high-potency corticosteroid, like halcinonide (Halog), for longer than 3 months at a time. Doing so raises your risk of side effects, like skin irritation or bruising. If you don't notice any improvements to your skin condition after using this medication for a few weeks, let your dermatologist know. They can talk with you about next steps.
If you've been using halcinonide (Halog) regularly for a few weeks and want to stop this medication, let your dermatologist know. They can help you do so safely by lowering your dose slowly over time. If you suddenly stop halcinonide (Halog), you might experience symptoms of topical steroid withdrawal, such as skin burning or swelling.
Wash your hands well before and after you apply halcinonide (Halog) to your skin. This helps prevent the medication from accidentally getting in your eyes. Rinse your eye well with water for at least 15 minutes if you get the medication in your eye.
Don't place bandages or dressings over the areas where you applied halcinonide (Halog) unless your prescriber says it's okay. Covering the treated area with tight bandages or dressings can cause more medication to get absorbed into your body than intended and raise your risk of skin irritation.
If your child's dermatologist prescribed halcinonide (Halog) to treat the skin in your child's diaper area, avoid having them wear diapers or plastic pants that are too tight. This can cover the medicated area too tightly, which can cause more medication to get absorbed through the skin and lead to more side effects.
Don't use other topical steroids while you're using halcinonide (Halog) unless directed by your dermatologist. Applying more than one topical steroid can raise your risk for side effects like skin redness and skin irritation.
If you have a skin infection that's causing inflammation, you might be prescribed an additional medication alongside halcinonide (Halog) to help treat the skin infection. Let your HCP know if you notice worsening redness, pain, or swelling or any pus where you're applying halcinonide (Halog). You might have to stop using halcinonide (Halog) until your skin infection gets treated.
Frequently asked questions about Halcinonide (Halog)
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What are the risks and warnings for Halcinonide (Halog)?
Halcinonide (Halog) 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.
Hormone problems and withdrawal
Risk factors: Using halcinonide (Halog) for a long period of time | Using more halcinonide (Halog) than recommended| Covering applied area with a bandage | Young children
In rare cases, using topical halcinonide (Halog) for a long time and over a large skin area can cause a medical condition called adrenal suppression. This is when your body stops making its own steroid hormones because of the presence of the steroid medication. And if you suddenly stop the medication, it can lead to symptoms of withdrawal include skin swelling, rash, and burning. To prevent adrenal suppression from happening, your healthcare team will prescribe the lowest possible dose of halcinonide (Halog) that works well for you for the shortest amount of time. If you need to use halcinonide (Halog) for a long period of time or for a large area, your care team might ask you to do some lab work to test how well your adrenal gland works. Don't suddenly stop using halcinonide (Halog) without talking to your care team first.
High blood sugar
Risk factors: Using halcinonide (Halog) for a long period of time | Using more halcinonide (Halog) than recommended
Rarely, using topical halcinonide (Halog) for a long period of time or over large areas of the body can sometimes raise your blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar level isn't controlled, this can lead to diabetes. If you have diabetes, your provider might ask you to check your blood sugar level regularly to make sure this medication is safe for you. Let your provider know if you feel more thirsty or are urinating more than usual.
More on Halcinonide (Halog) warnings
Halcinonide (Halog) dosage forms
Typical dosing for Halcinonide (Halog)
Halcinonide (Halog) comes as a 0.1% cream and 0.1% topical solution.
Halcinonide (Halog) is applied to the affected area(s) 2 or 3 times a day.
Interactions between Halcinonide (Halog) and other drugs
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.
How much does Halcinonide (Halog) cost?
What are alternatives to Halcinonide (Halog)?
Inflammatory and itchy skin conditions
Skin inflammation disorders, including psoriasis, eczema, and seborrheic dermatitis
Inflammatory skin conditions - cream and ointment only
Plaque psoriasis - lotion and foam only
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References
Best studies we foundAmerican Optometric Association. (n.d.). Protecting your eyes at work.
Baum, E. W. (2011). Effectiveness and patient acceptance of halcinonide 0.1% cream in 216g jars for large-area steroid-responsive dermatoses. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.
Encube Ethicals Private Limited. (2024). Halcinonide topical solution- halcinonide topical solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
Glasshouse Pharmaceuticals Limited Canada. (2024). Halcinonide cream [package insert]. DailyMed.
Lam, L. H., et al. (2016). Adrenal suppression with chronic topical corticosteroids use in psoriasis patients. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
Mother To Baby. (2022). Topical corticosteroids. Organization of Teratology Information Specialists.
Phan, K., et al. (2019). Topical corticosteroids and risk of diabetes mellitus: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Dermatological Treatment.
Stacey, S. K., et a. (2021). Topical corticosteroids: Choice and application. American Family Physician.
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