Name: Eumovate
Published: Nov 14, 2023

Eumovate

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Reviewed on Nov 14, 2023. by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer Next review due on November 15, 2026.

Last updated on Nov 14, 2023.

Product info

Eumovate is a steroid treatment for mild skin conditions that cause inflammation and itching.
Its active ingredient suppresses inflammatory processes to relieve your symptoms.
Comes as a cream for moist skin, or an ointment for dry skin. Apply as instructed every day.

Price checker

Prices include:

Express shipping
24 hour shipping by secure courier.
Consultation + Access to our clinicians
Ask our experts anything you like, any time you want.
Total
£42.95

Save £0.00 each order

Eumovate: essential info
Eumovate: instructions
Important stuff you need to know
FAQ

What is Eumovate?

Eumovate is available as cream and ointment, both containing clobetasone butyrate as the active ingredient. It’s used to treat mild skin conditions where the skin is inflamed (swollen) and itchy. But it’s not suitable for itchy skin that isn’t swollen.

Dermatitis (sometimes called eczema) is an umbrella term used to describe various skin conditions that make your skin inflamed. When you’ve got dermatitis, your skin can get all dry, itchy, and sometimes it cracks and gets sore. There are different kinds of dermatitis, including atopic dermatitis, photodermatitis, and contact dermatitis.^[2]

Photodermatitis, sometimes known as “sun allergy,” leads to eczema-like rashes on your skin. This can happen when your skin is exposed to sunlight or certain substances that cause irritation when they’re combined with light.^[3] There are various types of photodermatitis, including polymorphic light eruption, solar urticaria, and actinic prurigo.

Does Eumovate contain a steroid?

Yes. The active ingredient in Eumovate, clobetasone butyrate, is a corticosteroid (or simply steroid). Steroids are classified in different categories depending on their potency, as ‘mild’, ‘moderately potent’, ‘potent’ or ‘very potent’. Clobetasone butyrate falls somewhere in the middle, as a moderately potent steroid.^[1]

Mild and moderately potent treatments generally come with a lower risk of side effects compared to the strongest two categories.

How does Eumovate cream work for dermatitis?

Eumovate contains clobetasone butyrate, a steroid that works in different ways when applied directly on your skin. It calms inflammation and has antipruritic (reduces itchiness) and vasoconstrictive (narrows blood vessels) effects.

Clobetasone reduces the production of mast cells — cells that release a molecule called histamine, which can cause allergies and inflammation. It also decreases the production of other molecules that are involved in inflammation like cytokines and arachidonic acid.^[4]

Treated trusted sources:

National Institute for Health and care Excellence (NICE). Topical corticosteroids.
Healthline. (n.d.). What Is Dermatitis?

This page was written by The Treated Content Team.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on November 15, 2023. Next review due on November 15, 2026.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

How to use Eumovate for dermatitis

The instructions on how to use Eumovate on your skin are generally the same whether your clinician advised you to use the cream or the ointment. It’s best to apply it exactly as your clinician recommended, but you can find some general guidelines below:

Start by washing your hands before each application.
Apply Eumovate in a thin layer to the affected skin areas. You can use fingertip units to measure the right amount (more info below).
Gently massage it into your skin until it’s fully absorbed.
Wash your hands at the end of the application, unless you’re treating your hands.
If you’re also using a moisturiser, it’s best to wait a bit after applying Eumovate to allow it to absorb fully into your skin.

A fingertip unit, roughly 500mg, is the amount of cream or ointment you can squeeze from the tip to the first crease of your finger, and it helps measure the right amount of Eumovate you should use. Here’s a quick guide:

Face and neck: apply two and a half fingertip units.
Back or front: apply seven fingertip units.
One arm (without your hand): three fingertip units.
One leg (without your foot): six fingertip units.
Both sides of your hand: one fingertip unit.
One foot: two fingertip units.

You’ll typically apply Eumovate once or twice a day. As your skin improves, your clinician may advise you to use less cream or ointment.

How long does it take Eumovate to work for dermatitis?

It’s difficult to say for sure how long it’ll take. This can vary from person to person depending on the size of the skin area affected by dermatitis, the severity of your condition and how well you respond to the treatment. In most cases though, you might start feeling less itchy and less inflamed after a few days, but it may take more time for the rashes to visibly improve.

But if your skin doesn’t get better within four weeks, contact your clinician and ask them for advice.

What is the difference between Eumovate cream and ointment?

Both Eumovate cream and ointment have the same amount of clobetasone butyrate at 0.05% (meaning each gram of cream or ointment contains 0.5mg of clobetasone), and so will work in very similar ways. But the cream and ointment have different textures because they contain different inactive ingredients (called excipients). As a result, the ointment is greasier than the cream.

That’s why Eumovate ointment works well for dry and scaly skin. It’s better at getting through dry skin compared to the cream, so your skin absorbs more of the active ingredient. So, if your dermatitis causes dry skin, your clinician may recommend using the ointment for better results.

Eumovate cream, on the other hand, has a moisturising base and works well for dermatitis when your skin is moist and weeping.

This page was written by The Treated Content Team.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on November 15, 2023. Next review due on November 15, 2026.

How we source info.

FAQ: Eumovate

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

What alternatives are there to Eumovate for dermatitis?

Answer:

There are many alternatives to Eumovate and the treatment might involve creams, ointments or lotions. If you're looking for tailored recommendations for dermatitis and photodermatitis, a clinician can help you choose the best treatment.

Typically, clinicians begin treatment with the mildest steroid available for your condition to reduce the risk of side effects.

Dermovate is another topical treatment for dermatitis, and it contains a highly potent steroid called clobetasol propionate. It's specifically intended for short-term treatment of more severe inflammatory and itchy conditions that don't respond to milder corticosteroids (like Eumovate).^[1]

Betamethasone valerate, branded as Betnovate, is also available as a cream and ointment. Although they work in similar ways in your body, betamethasone is more potent than clobetasone (the active ingredient in Eumovate). But a clinical study has found that Eumovate cream was just as effective as 0.1% betamethasone valerate cream in treating patients with atopic or contact dermatitis after two and four weeks of use.^[2]

Topical hydrocortisone is an option for treating different types of dermatitis, including photodermatitis. You can typically buy mild hydrocortisone treatments at your local pharmacy. A study that looked at 29 clinical trials found that clobetasone butyrate 0.05% is better at treating eczema than 1.0% hydrocortisone.^[3]

Can you buy Eumovate over the counter for dermatitis?

Answer:

No, Eumovate is not available without a prescription. A clinician needs to assess your condition to make sure it's safe for you to use. While it contains a moderately-potent topical steroid with a lower risk of serious side effects, a clinician must confirm it's the appropriate treatment for your condition and safe for your use.

Can I use Eumovate on my face?

Answer:

Yes, both Eumovate cream and ointment are safe to use on your face and neck if less potent corticosteroids haven’t worked, and if your clinician recommends this. But if you use it on your face, be careful to avoid your mouth, eyes or nose. Also, stick to the treatment duration recommended by your clinician to prevent side effects like skin thinning or increased sensitivity.

Can I use Eumovate on broken skin?

Answer:

Don't use Eumovate cream or ointment on broken or infected skin. Doing so can raise the risk of side effects and potentially make your condition worse by allowing more of the medication to enter your bloodstream.

Can Eumovate cause any side effects?

Answer:

Both Eumovate cream and ointment can cause various side effects, but they’re very rare and they affect only a small number of people (1 in 10,000). These side effects may include:

increased risk of skin infections;

allergic skin reactions;

burning, irritation or itching;

skin thinning and skin that’s more prone to damage;

rashes, skin redness, itchy and bumpy skin;

weakening of bones, which may lead to fractures;

increased hair growth and changes in skin colour;

cataract (cloudy lens in your eye) or glaucoma (increased eye pressure);

increased blood sugar levels; or:

high blood pressure.

If you've been using Eumovate for an extended period and decide to stop, you might experience something called a ‘steroid withdrawal reaction.’ It can show up as skin redness, a sensation of burning or stinging, severe itching, skin peeling, open sores that ooze. If you notice these symptoms when you stop treatment, ask your clinician for advice.

Does Eumovate cream lighten skin?

Answer:

In some rare cases (may happen to 1 in 10,000 people), Eumovate could lead to slight changes in your skin colour. But these changes are temporary and your skin should go back to its usual colour after you stop using the treatment.

Treated trusted sources:

Electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) (n.d.). Dermovate Ointment – Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) – (emc).
Fredriksson, T. and Nordin, K. (1979). Clobetasone butyrate compared with betamethasone valerate in the treatment of atopic and contact dermatitis. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 6(5), pp.322–324.
Goustas, P., Cork, M. and Higson, D. (2003). Eumovate (clobetasone butyrate 0.05%) cream: a review of clinical efficacy and safety. Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 14(2), pp.71–85.