Halcinonide is a synthetic corticosteroid. It is structurally similar to other steroids such as cortisol, and has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. A corticosteroid is a type of steroid hormone. Steroid hormones are produced naturally in the body and are involved in many bodily processes such as stress response, immunity, and inflammation. Corticosteroids are synthetic versions of these hormones that are used to treat various conditions.
What is Halcinonide used for?
Halcinonide is used topically to treat various skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. It works by reducing inflammation and itchiness. Halcinonide is available in several different formulations for topical use. These include creams, ointments, solutions, foams, and gels. Halcinonide cream is the most commonly used formulation and is available in 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% strengths.
Halcinonide brand names
Halcinonide is a generic name for the drug. The brand names for this topical steroid are the following:
United States:
- Halog
Canada:
- Halog Cream, Halog Ointment, Halog Solution
Which body parts should be avoided when using Halcinonide?
This medicine is for use on the skin only. Avoid getting it in your mouth, nose, eyes, or vagina. 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. If you think there might be a skin infection present, specifically, consult your doctor before using it for any other conditions. Certain skin infections or illnesses, like serious burns, shouldn’t be treated with this medication.
How long does Halcinonide stay in your system?
The amount of time that halcinonide 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 halcinonide can stay in your system for long periods of time, possibly for up to a few weeks. Halcinonide is not recommended for long term use. More research is required about the half-life of Halcinonide and how long it stays in your system.
According to the NHS, for people who use halcinonide 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 Halcinonide?
According to Mayo Clinic, use of halcinonide can have side effects. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
- 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)
Why does my skin burn when I apply Halcinonide to my skin?
If your skin burns after applying halcinonide to your skin, you may have an allergic reaction to the steroid cream and your skin cannot tolerate it. Halcinonide also contains cetostearyl alcohol which may cause acute allergic reactions.
How do I taper down from using Halcinonide?
To taper down from using halcinonide 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 Halcinonide?
Halcinonide is a high-potent topical steroid cream. Weaker topical steroid creams down the Topical Steroid Potency Strength Chart are the following:
- Mometasone furoate
- Fluticasone propionate
- Triamcinolone acetonide 0.5%
- Betamethasone valerate
- 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 Halcinonide?
Topical steroid creams that are stronger than halcinonide are as follows:
- Augmented betamethasone dipropionate
- Clobetasol propionate
- Desoximetasone
- Augmented diflorasone diacetate
- Diflorasone diacetate
- Fluocinonide
- Flurandrenolide 4 mcg/cm2
- Halobetasol propionate
- Amcinonide
- Betamethasone dipropionate
What happens when you use Halcinonide too often?
If you use halcinonide too frequently or for an extended period of time, tolerance or tachyphylaxis to that potency level of steroid cream may develop. Halcinonide 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 Halcinonide cause topical steroid withdrawal?
More research is required to understand the complexity of Topical Steroid Withdrawal and its specific connection to halcinonide. Halcinonide 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 halcinonide) 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. However, medical advice favours the gradual reduction of topical steroids, rather than stopping usage abruptly.
At TSW Assist, we are identifying crowd sourced insights 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.
