8 Six ounces should cover the whole body of an average adult. Some lotions, such as scalp lotions, are suitable for hairy areas. For example, increasing the concentration of hydrocortisone by a factor of 10 results in an increase in potency by a factor of only 4. Short term use of occlusion may be useful for severe lesions. If plastic occlusion is used, a maximum of 12 hours in a 24 hour period is recommended to reduce the potential problems of sweat retention, infection, and systemic side effects.
Various substances can enhance the penetration and potency of topical corticosteroids.
For example, while Diprosone and Diprolene both contain betamethasone dipropionate, the penetration of the drug is enhanced in an optimized base containing propylene glycol resulting in an Ultra-high potency product. Urea and salicylic acid also enhance the potency of a product and can be especially useful in conditions such as psoriasis. The risk of side effects from topical corticosteroids is related to drug potency, duration of therapy, frequency of application and anatomical area. Common side effects are described in Table 1. Dermal atrophy is one of the most notable local side effects.