Common questions about mometasone for skin - Brand name: Elocon

Mometasone is a steroid (also called a corticosteroid). Steroids help to reduce swelling (inflammation) in the skin and other parts of the body.

Skin gets inflamed when an allergic reaction or irritation causes chemicals to be released in the skin. These make your blood vessels widen and your irritated skin becomes red, swollen, itchy and painful.

Mometasone skin treatments work on your skin's cells to stop these chemicals being released. This reduces any swelling, redness and itching.

Your skin should start to get better after you've used mometasone for a few days.

Speak to your doctor if your skin does not get better after 14 days (or 5 days for a child), or if your skin gets worse at any time.

Using mometasone for a long time without stopping can mean some of the medicine gets into your blood. If this happens, there's a very small chance it can cause serious side effects, such as adrenal gland problems, high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia), thinning of your skin, or problems with your eyesight.

Using it for a long time can also increase the risk of having a reaction when you stop using it. You might have a burning feeling and redness, although this may be more difficult to see on brown or black skin.

The reaction will feel different to the skin condition you have been using mometasone for. It may cover a larger area than the area you were treating.

If you've been using mometasone for a long time, your doctor may tell you to gradually reduce the amount you use before stopping completely.

Do not use mometasone on your face unless a doctor has told you to.

The skin on your face is delicate. If mometasone skin treatments thin the skin or damage it, it's particularly noticeable.

If a doctor has said you can use it on your face, do not use it for more than 5 days.

Do not put mometasone near your eyes or on your eyelids.

Steroids like mometasone reduce the swelling (inflammation) in your skin to help manage your symptoms. They do not cure eczema.

If you feel your symptoms are getting worse after using mometasone, it's important to tell a doctor.

When you stop using mometasone, skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis can flare up again.

You can avoid this by gradually reducing the amount you put on, and how often you use it. Your doctor can tell you how to do this.

Using mometasone does not stop you or your child having vaccinations.

But tell the doctor or nurse that you're using mometasone skin treatments so they can give the vaccine in an untreated area of your skin.

Red steroid emergency card

If you're using steroid medicines such as mometasone, your adrenal glands may not make as much of some of the hormones your body needs such as cortisol (known as the stress hormone). This is known as adrenal insufficiency.

It's more likely to happen if you take high doses for a long time (especially tablets and injections) or if you regularly use different kinds of steroids at the same time (such as a steroid nasal spray and a steroid inhaler).

Your doctor or pharmacist will check your risk of adrenal insufficiency based on the type and dose of steroids you're taking, and may recommend that you carry a red steroid emergency card. This card is the size of a credit card and fits in your wallet or purse. A similar card, called the adrenal insufficiency card, is available for children.

Blue steroid card

If you're using very high doses of mometasone skin cream, your doctor or pharmacist may also give you a blue steroid treatment card.

The card is the size of a credit card and fits in your wallet or purse. It tells you how you can reduce the risks of side effects. It also gives details of your doctor, how much mometasone you use, and how long the treatment will last for.

If you need any medical or dental treatment, show your blue steroid card to the doctor or dentist.

Mometasone does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill, progestogen-only pill or emergency contraception.

Mometasone does not make you sleepy, so it's safe to drive or ride a bike (or use tools or machinery) when using this medicine.

Yes, you can drink alcohol while using mometasone.

No. This medicine is not affected by what you eat or drink.