Fluocinonide

Long-term continuous topical steroid therapy can produce atrophic skin changes and dilation of the superficial blood vessels particularly when occlusive dressings are used or where skin folds are involved. Prolonged use of topical steroids or treatment of extensive areas, even without occlusion, can result in sufficient absorption of the steroid to produce the features of hypercorticalism and underlying adrenal suppression, especially in infants and children.

There is inadequate evidence of safety in human pregnancy. Topical administration of steroids to pregnant animals can cause abnormalities of foetal development, including cleft palate and intrauterine growth retardation. There may therefore be a very small risk of such effects on the human foetus.

Topical steroids should not be applied to the breasts prior to nursing. When topical steroid treatment is considered necessary for other parts of the body, both the amount applied and the length of treatment should be minimised.

No precautions are necessary.

With fluocinonide side effects are extremely rare but, as with all topical steroids, the occasional patient may show an adverse reaction such as hypersensitivity. Irritation at the site of application may occur infrequently. Extensive treatment, particularly involving occlusive dressings or where skin folds are involved, can result in both local atrophic changes, such as striae, skin thinning and telangiectasia, and systemic effects such as adrenal suppression.

The use of topical steroids on infected lesions, without the addition of appropriate anti-infective therapy, can result in the spread of opportunist infection.

The eyes should be avoided.

Local side effects include contact dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, acne, or worsening of acne or acne rosacea, mild depigmentation which may be reversible and hypertrichosis.