Betamethasone valerate is a medication that is used to treat skin conditions. It belongs to a group of medications called corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are hormones that are produced by the body’s adrenal gland. They have many functions, including reducing inflammation and suppressing the immune system.
What is Betamethasone valerate used for?
Betamethasone valerate works by reducing inflammation and itchiness. It is typically used to treat skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. Betamethasone valerate is available as creams, ointments, and solutions.
Betamethasone valerate brand names
Betamethasone valerate is the generic name of the drug. Below are the brand names for betamethasone valerate:
United States:
Betamethacot, Beta-Val, Luxiq, Qualisone, Valisone
Canada:
Betacort Scalp Lotion, Betnovate, Betnovate-12, Celestoderm-V, Celestoderm-V2, Ectosone Mild-Lotion. Ectosone Regular-Cream, Ectosone Regular-Lotion, Ectosone Scalp Lotion, Metaderm Mild, Metaderm Regular, Novo-Betamet
Which body parts should be avoided when using Betamethasone valerate?
Only the skin should be used for this medication. Keep it out of your eyes. It should not be applied to skin that has been burned, scraped, or cut. Rinse it off with water as soon as possible if it does get on these locations.
Only skin diseases that your doctor is treating with this medication should be used. Before using it for any additional conditions, particularly if you suspect an infection, consult your doctor. Certain skin infections or illnesses, like serious burns, shouldn’t be treated with this medication.
How long does Betamethasone valerate stay in your system?
The amount of time that Betamethasone valerate stays in your system is dependent on the duration of use of the medicine. Some research suggests that suppression of cortisol levels is still apparent 96 hours after topical use of corticosteroid creams, which implies that Betamethasone valerate can stay in your system for long periods of time, possibly for up to a few weeks. Betamethasone valerate is not recommended for long term use. More research is required about the half-life of Betamethasone valerate and how long it stays in your system.
According to the NHS, for people who use Betamethasone valerate for extended periods of time (more than 12 months in adults), a withdrawal reaction may occur which can include:
- redness or changes in skin color (hyperpigmentation)
- burning, stinging, itching or peeling of the skin, or oozing, open sores
What are the side effects of Betamethasone valerate?
According to Mayo Clinic, the use of betamethasone valerate may have side effects. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
- Burning, itching, or stinging at the application site
Less common
- Hair loss
- thinning of the hair
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 where the skin folds together (e.g. between the fingers)
Why does my skin burn when I apply Betamethasone valerate to my skin?
If your skin burns after applying Betamethasone valerate to your skin, you may have an allergic reaction to the steroid cream and your skin cannot tolerate it. Betamethasone valerate also contains cetostearyl alcohol which may cause acute allergic reactions.
How do I taper down from using Betamethasone valerate?
To taper down from using Betamethasone valerate many doctors advise adjusting to using a weaker steroid cream over an extended period of time. This is commonly known as climbing down the topical steroid ladder.
Which steroid creams are weaker than Betamethasone valerate?
Betamethasone valerate is a medium-strength topical steroid. According to the Topical Steroid Potency Strength Chart, weaker topical steroids under betamethasone valerate are the following:
- Fluocinolone acetonide
- Flurandrenolide
- Hydrocortisone valerate
- Triamcinolone acetonide
- Betamethasone valerate 0.1%
- Clocortolone pivalate
- Hydrocortisone butyrate
- Hydrocortisone probutate
- Hydrocortisone valerate 0.2%
- Prednicarbate
- Alclometasone dipropionate
- Desonide 0.05%
- Hydrocortisone 0.5% – 2.5%
- Hydrocortisone
Which steroid creams are stronger than Betamethasone valerate?
Since betamethasone valerate is a medium-strength topical steroid, there are stronger topical steroids available such as:
- Augmented betamethasone dipropionate
- Clobetasol propionate
- Desoximetasone
- Augmented diflorasone diacetate
- Diflorasone diacetate
- Fluocinonide
- Flurandrenolide 4 mcg/cm2
- Halobetasol propionate
- Amcinonide
- Betamethasone dipropionate
- Desoximetasone
- Halcinonide
- Mometasone furoate
- Fluticasone propionate
- Triamcinolone acetonide 0.5%
What happens when you use Betamethasone valerate too often?
If you use Betamethasone valerate too frequently or for an extended period of time, tolerance or tachyphylaxis to that potency level of steroid cream may develop. Betamethasone valerate is not recommended for extended use which may result in some of the common side effects listed above. Consult with your doctor if you have concerns.
Does Betamethasone valerate cause topical steroid withdrawal?
More research is required to understand the complexity of Topical Steroid Withdrawal and its specific connection to Betamethasone valerate. Betamethasone valerate is a highly potent corticosteroid commonly used for skin conditions and the side effects of discontinuing the use of this topical steroid medicine is yet to be studied.
Throughout online groups and communities, there are serious concerns, accounts, discussions and images about corticosteroid creams (not just Betamethasone valerate) causing Topical Steroid Withdrawal. The accounts and experiences of the Topical Steroid Withdrawal community continues to grow and has gathered media wide attention for the aesthetic physical severity of many suffering.
Topical Steroid Withdrawal is an iatrogenic health phenomena that requires more research and studies. The International Topical Steroid Awareness Network (ITSAN) is currently building a patient registry to begin preliminary studies.
Is there treatment for Topical Steroid Withdrawal?
Currently, there is no global protocol or medical treatment for topical steroid withdrawal. At TSW Assist, we are identifying crowd sourced insights of products, routines, and therapies that can help manage the inflammation and symptoms during the withdrawal period from topical steroids. Currently, there is no quick cure for Topical Steroid Withdrawal.
Through the community, we are finding insights of the management of the symptoms of TSW, through the tracking of the efficacy of specific products, methods and therapies.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is not medical advice. There is no known medical cure for topical steroid withdrawal, but there are collective methods to manage the symptom and inflammation during the withdrawal period. It should not be mistaken that all usage of steroid creams will cause topical steroid withdrawal. More clinical research is required to understand the cause of Topical Steroid Withdrawal within an individual.
