triamcinolone
Triamcinolone is a topical corticosteroid used to treat different inflammatory skin conditions, like eczema psoriasis, or skin allergies, in adults and children. It works by reducing inflammation, redness, and irritation. The medication is available in various formulations, such as cream, ointment, lotion, and topical spray. Depending on the formulation, it's typically applied between 2 to 4 times a day. Side effects are rare, but can include burning, itching, and dryness at the application site.
What is Triamcinolone?
What is Triamcinolone used for?
- Inflammatory skin conditions
How Triamcinolone works
Triamcinolone is a topical corticosteroid. When it’s used on the skin, it has 3 actions:
- It lowers the amount of chemicals that cause redness, itching, and swelling, which helps to reduce inflammation.
- It slows down new skin cells from being made, which can help minimize patches or scales in certain skin problems (e.g., psoriasis).
- It lessens your body's immune response, improving certain skin problems that are caused by a sensitive immune system (e.g., eczema).
Drug facts
More on Triamcinolone essentials
Side effects of Triamcinolone
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
- Itching
- Skin irritation
- Dry skin
Less Common Side Effects
- Inflamed hair follicles
- Excessive hair growth
- Acne-like bumps
- Changes in skin color
- Rash
- Skin thinning
- Stretch marks
- Heat rash
Triamcinolone serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Withdrawal symptoms: long-term fatigue, muscle weakness, poor appetite, weight loss, stomach pain
The following Triamcinolone 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.
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Pros and cons of Triamcinolone
Pros
- Symptoms typically start to improve within a few days
- Many formulations to choose from, such as ointment, cream, lotion, and spray
- Might have less side effects compared to oral steroids that you take by mouth
Cons
- For short-term use only
- Children might absorb more of this medication, raising the risk of side effects
- Needs to be applied multiple times a day
Pharmacist tips for Triamcinolone
- Triamcinolone should only be used on skin that's not broken. Don't use it on wounds or on damaged skin because this can cause more side effects.
- Wash your hands after using triamcinolone to avoid getting the medication in your eyes (unless you're treating your hands). If it does get into your eyes, rinse them with water or saline, and contact your primary care provider if irritation doesn't go away.
- Avoid covering the treated area with a bandage after applying triamcinolone unless directed by your healthcare team. If applying around the diaper area, don't use tight fitting diapers or plastic pants on your child. Doing so might affect how much medication gets absorbed.
- Triamcinolone isn't meant for long-term use. Talk to your prescriber about how long your treatment should last.
- If you're using triamcinolone topical spray, make sure you don't inhale (breathe in) the medication. Also, avoid applying this medication to your face or skin folds (e.g., armpits) unless directed by your care team.
- Triamcinolone topical spray is flammable. Avoid applying this medication near heat sources, such as heater or open flame. And don't smoke during application.
Common questions about Triamcinolone
In general, triamcinolone causes few side effects if used as directed by your healthcare team. But if you apply it over large areas of skin or for a long time, it can cause you to absorb too much of the medication. This puts you at higher risk for side effects, such as skin lightening, skin thinning, stretch marks, and spider veins. Speak with your healthcare team if you have any side effects while you're using triamcinolone.
Yes. Triamcinolone is a topical steroid that helps lower inflammation. Unlike oral steroids, only small amounts of triamcinolone are absorbed into the bloodstream, making it less likely to cause serious side effects.
Triamcinolone is used to treat various skin inflammation. Some older studies suggest it might help with cold sores. If you have cold sores, talk to your care team about the best treatment for you.
Paronychia is a skin infection around the sides or base of a fingernail or toenail. According to American Family Physician, treatment often starts with warm soaks using aluminum acetate solution and 1% acetic acid. If warm soaks don't help with inflammation, your healthcare team might prescribe a topical antibiotic with or without topical steroids, such as triamcinolone. Keep in mind that even though topical steroids can reduce inflammation, they might also slow down the healing process.
No, triamcinolone isn't an antifungal medication so it won't be able to treat a fungal or yeast infection. Triamcinolone is only meant to help with reducing symptoms of skin inflammation. Sometimes, your healthcare team might consider adding an antifungal medication if they think you have a fungal skin infection.
Not typically. Triamcinolone is more likely to cause or worsen your acne as a side effect. If you have a history of acne problems, talk to your dermatologist before starting this medication or any other topical steroids. To minimize acne side effects, use the smallest amount of triamcinolone for the shortest time needed.
Don't use triamcinolone on your face unless your prescriber tells you to. Since it's a medium-strength steroid, applying it to sensitive skin can raise the risk of side effects like redness, acne, and skin thinning.
In a clinical study, over half of the people using triamcinolone spray noticed their skin symptoms improving after 3 days. In addition, everyone in the study saw improvement within 2 weeks. And by 28 days, more than half were nearly symptom-free. If your symptoms don’t get better after a few days of using triamcinolone, talk to your prescriber.
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Risks and warnings for Triamcinolone
Triamcinolone 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.
Reduced adrenal gland function
- Risk factors: Using high potency topical steroids | Using triamcinolone for a long period of time | Using excessive amounts of triamcinolone on your skin | Covering applied area with a bandage | Young children
In some rare cases, using topical triamcinolone for a long time and over a large skin area can cause a medical condition called adrenal suppression. This happens when your body doesn't make enough of steroid hormones, which creates a dependence on steroid medication. And if you suddenly stop the medication, it can lead to symptoms of withdrawal such as fever, joint or muscle pain, and low energy. In children, symptoms often include stunted growth, weight gain, and headaches. To prevent adrenal suppression from happening, your healthcare team will prescribe the lowest possible dose of triamcinolone for the shortest amount of time. Let your prescriber know if you have symptoms of withdrawal. Don't suddenly stop using triamcinolone without talking to your care team first.
Skin infection
Using triamcinolone long term can raise the risk of skin infections, such as fungal or bacterial infections. Don't use triamcinolone if you have a skin infection because it can make your infection worse. Let your healthcare team know if you have redness, swelling, pain, pus, or if your current symptoms don't improve after a few days of treatment. These can be signs and symptoms of a new infection.
Skin problems
- Risk factors: Excessive and inappropriate use of triamcinolone | Using a lot of triamcinolone
Using triamcinolone longer than directed by your healthcare team can raise your risk of different skin reactions, including skin thinning, stretch marks, spider veins, burning, itching, irritation, dry skin, inflamed hair follicles, changes in skin color, or rash. To prevent severe skin reactions from happening, your care team will prescribe the lowest possible dose of triamcinolone to treat your symptoms for the shortest amount of time. Let your healthcare team know right away if you notice any new or worsening skin problems.
Triamcinolone dosage
Bottle of lotion| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60ml of 0.025% | 1 bottle | $15.10 | $15.10 |
| 60ml of 0.1% | 1 bottle | $26.52 | $26.52 |
Bottle of spray| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100g of 0.147mg/g | 1 bottle | $98.98 | $98.98 |
| 63g of 0.147mg/g | 1 bottle | $64.02 | $64.02 |
Jar of cream| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 454g of 0.025% | 1 jar | $17.50 | $17.50 |
| 454g of 0.1% | 1 jar | $12.89 | $12.89 |
Jar of ointment| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 454g of 0.025% | 1 jar | $19.92 | $19.92 |
| 430g of 0.05% | 1 jar | $66.93 | $66.93 |
| 454g of 0.1% | 1 jar | $19.04 | $19.04 |
| 110g of 0.05% | 1 jar | $33.44 | $33.44 |
Tube of cream| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15g of 0.025% | 1 tube | $3.91 | $3.91 |
| 80g of 0.025% | 1 tube | $13.89 | $13.89 |
| 15g of 0.1% | 1 tube | $3.76 | $3.76 |
| 30g of 0.1% | 1 tube | $5.03 | $5.03 |
| 80g of 0.1% | 1 tube | $9.98 | $9.98 |
| 15g of 0.5% | 1 tube | $8.08 | $8.08 |
Tube of ointment| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15g of 0.025% | 1 tube | $4.58 | $4.58 |
| 80g of 0.025% | 1 tube | $14.03 | $14.03 |
| 15g of 0.5% | 1 tube | $9.26 | $9.26 |
| 80g of 0.1% | 1 tube | $8.64 | $8.64 |
| 15g of 0.1% | 2 tubes | $4.80 | $2.40 |
| 30g of 0.1% | 1 tube | $4.80 | $4.80 |
Tube of paste| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5g of 0.1% | 1 tube | $24.18 | $24.18 |
Typical dosage for Triamcinolone
- Triamcinolone topical lotion and spray: Apply a small amount to the affected area(s) 3 to 4 times daily.
- Triamcinolone topical 0.025% cream: Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) 2 to 4 times daily.
- Triamcinolone topical 0.1% and 0.5% cream: Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) 2 to 3 times daily.
- Triamcinolone topical 0.025% and 0.05% ointment: Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) 2 to 4 times daily.
- Triamcinolone topical 0.1% ointment: Apply a small amount to the affected area(s) 2 to 3 times daily.
Triamcinolone reviews
GoodRx has partnered with to provide reviews on the different aspects of Triamcinolone.
Effectiveness
Learn more about the effectiveness of Triamcinolone based on real life experiences.
Overall Rating
Based on 53 people taking this medication
3.4
Effectiveness by condition:
psoriasis24 reviews
2.6
discoid lupus erythematosus14 reviews
4.4
eczema7 reviews
3.8
dyshidrotic eczema5 reviews
2.5
atopic dermatitis3 reviews
3.8
Severity of side effects
Based on 95 people taking this medication
0%
50%
100%
Top side effects
Burning sensation in skin
3%
Skin thinning
3%
Agitation
2%
Anxious mood
2%
Blisters
2%
Reasons people stopped taking Triamcinolone
Based on 119 people who have taken this medication
Course of treatment ended
33%
Did not seem to work
32%
Doctor's advice
16%
Other
12%
Side effects too severe
5%
Expense
3%
Change in health plan coverage
1%
Personal research
1%
How long people take Triamcinolone
Based on 140 people who have taken this medication
0%
50%
100%
Interactions between Triamcinolone 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.
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