Fingertip units for topical steroids
Granskad av Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGPSenast uppdaterad av Dr Doug McKechnie, MRCGPLast updated 19 Jan 2023
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Topical steroids are used for various skin conditions. The amount of topical steroid that you should apply is commonly measured by fingertip units.
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What are topical steroids?
Topical steroids are creams, ointments and lotions which contain steroid drugs. Topical steroids work by reducing inflammation in the skin. They are used for various skin conditions, such as atopic eczema. Unlike many other creams and ointments, it is important to get the dose right when using topical steroids, to avoid giving too much, or too little. This is why a standard measure is often used - the fingertip unit (FTU).
See the separate leaflet called Topical Steroids for Eczema for more information.
Fingertip units
Tillbaka till innehållPicture of a fingertip unit of a topical steroid
One FTU is the amount of topical steroid that is squeezed out from a standard tube along an adult's fingertip. (This assumes the tube has a standard 5 mm nozzle.) A fingertip is from the very end of the finger to the first crease in the finger. One FTU is enough to treat an area of skin twice the size of the flat of an adult's hand with the fingers together (ie a 'handprint').
Two FTUs are about the same as 1 g of topical steroid. Therefore, for example, say you treat an area of skin the size of eight adult hands. You will need four FTUs for each dose. (This is 2 g per dose. If the dose is once a day, then a 30 g tube should last for about 15 days of treatment.)
The following are further examples:
Area of skin to be treated (adults) | Size is roughly | FTUs each dose (adults) |
A hand and fingers (front and back) | About 2 adult hands | 1 FTU |
Front of chest and abdomen | About 14 adult hands | 7 FTUs |
Back and buttocks | About 14 adult hands | 7 FTUs |
Face and neck | About 5 adult hands | 2.5 FTUs |
An entire arm and hand | About 8 adult hands | 4 FTUs |
An entire leg and foot | About 16 adult hands | 8 FTUs |
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Fingertip units and children
Tillbaka till innehållAn FTU of cream or ointment is measured on an adult index finger before being rubbed on to a child. Again, one FTU is used to treat an area of skin on a child, equivalent to twice the size of the flat of an adult's hand with the fingers together. You can gauge the amount of topical steroid to use by using your (adult) hand to measure the amount of skin affected on the child. From this you can work out the amount of topical steroid to use.
The following gives a rough guide:
For a child aged 3-6 months
Entire face and neck - 1 FTU.
An entire arm and hand - 1 FTU.
An entire leg and foot - 1.5 FTUs.
The entire front of chest and tummy (abdomen) - 1 FTU.
The entire back including buttocks - 1.5 FTUs.
For a child aged 1-2 years
Entire face and neck - 1.5 FTUs.
An entire arm and hand - 1.5 FTUs.
An entire leg and foot - 2 FTUs.
The entire front of chest and abdomen - 2 FTUs.
The entire back including buttocks - 3 FTUs.
For a child aged 3-5 years
Entire face and neck - 1.5 FTUs.
An entire arm and hand - 2 FTUs.
An entire leg and foot - 3 FTUs.
The entire front of chest and abdomen - 3 FTUs.
The entire back including buttocks - 3.5 FTUs.
For a child aged 6-10 years
Entire face and neck - 2 FTUs.
An entire arm and hand - 2.5 FTUs.
An entire leg and foot - 4.5 FTUs.
The entire front of chest and abdomen - 3.5 FTUs.
The entire back including buttocks - 5 FTUs.
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Emollients and eczema creams
Emollients (moisturisers) are commonly used to treat eczema as they prevent the skin from becoming dry. You can apply emollients as often as you need. This may be 2-3 times a day or more if your skin becomes very dry. Applying emollients regularly is hard work and tedious but worthwhile as it can prevent eczema from flaring up.
av Dr Philippa Vincent, MRCGP
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Topical steroids for eczema
Topical steroids are medicated steroid creams that are put on the skin. They are used in addition to moisturisers (also called emollients) for treating eczema. Topical steroids reduce skin inflammation. A short course will usually clear a flare-up of eczema. Side-effects are unlikely to occur with short courses.
av Dr Toni Hazell, MRCGP
Osäker på att blanda mediciner?
Kontrollera möjliga interaktioner mellan läkemedel, kosttillskott och livsmedel innan du tar dem tillsammans.
Vidare läsning och referenser
- Long CC, Finlay AY; The finger-tip unit - a new practical measure. Clin Exp Dermatol. 1991 Nov;16(6):444-7.
- Bewley A; Expert consensus: time for a change in the way we advise our patients to use topical corticosteroids. Br J Dermatol. 2008 May;158(5):917-20. Epub 2008 Feb 22.
- British National Formulary (BNF); NICE Evidence Services (UK access only)
- Corticosteroids - topical (skin), nose, and eyes; NICE CKS, June 2022 (UK access only)
- Eczema - atopic; NICE CKS, April 2022 (UK access only)
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Informationen på denna sida är skriven och granskad av kvalificerade kliniker.
Next review due: 18 Jan 2028
19 Jan 2023 | Senaste versionen
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