Dermovate

Dermovate is a strong topical corticosteroid containing clobetasol propionate. It's one of the most powerful types of topical steroids and can ease symptoms from various skin conditions. For lichen planus, it helps to lessen swelling, irritation, itching, and redness.

Lichen planus is a skin condition that leads to itchy, reddish-purple, raised, flat bumps on the body. Applying topical treatments such as corticosteroids can help control these symptoms, but the condition often resolves on its own within nine to eighteen months.

When your skin gets inflamed due to an allergic reaction, certain chemicals cause your blood vessels to widen, leading to irritation, redness, itching, and swelling. Topical corticosteroids, such as Dermovate (clobetasol), are effective in reducing inflammation as they block the production of cytokines, small proteins in your immune cells that contribute to the reaction. These medications are used for their ability to reduce inflammation and itching, and they can also help narrow blood vessels to alleviate swelling.

If lichen planus is impacting your scalp, you'll be given a scalp application to apply directly to the problem area. The cream works well on skin that is moist or weeping, while the ointment is thicker and greasier, making it more suitable for dry or flaky skin. After your clinician has assessed your skin, they will advise you on which option is best for you.

The main active ingredient in Dermovate is clobetasol propionate. Each gram of the ointment contains 0.5 mg of clobetasol propionate, which is the same as 0.05% w/w. The other ingredients in the ointment include propylene glycol, sorbitan sesquioleate, and white soft paraffin. In the Dermovate cream, the inactive ingredients are cetostearyl alcohol, arlacel 165, propylene glycol, glyceryl monostearate 40-55, beeswax substitute 6621, sodium citrate, citric acid, chlorocresol, and purified water.

Eumovate is somewhat like Dermovate but contains a slightly different active ingredient, clobetasone butyrate, which is a milder version. Another option for topical treatment is Betnovate, which contains the corticosteroid betamethasone valerate. Both are effective in treating the rash symptoms of lichen planus.

Another choice is Chlorpheniramine, an antihistamine usually used to treat and ease allergy symptoms, and it can also be used for lichen planus. It's a tablet taken by mouth once a day.

If you have a severe case of lichen planus, you might be offered immune suppressant medication, light therapy (phototherapy), or retinoids. However, your clinician will make sure you've tried the safest and most effective treatments before considering other options.

Only use Dermovate on your face if your doctor advises it. Limit its use to five days, as using topical corticosteroids on the face too much can lead to skin thinning.

As with all medications, Dermovate may cause side effects, though not everyone experiences them. Some common side effects include a burning sensation or irritation at the application site of the ointment or cream. Using topical corticosteroids regularly can lead to skin thinning, making the blood vessels beneath your skin more noticeable.

Several studies have examined how effective the active ingredient clobetasol propionate is. In one study, it was compared to coconut cream for treating oral lichen planus. After two months, clobetasol reduced visible symptoms by 95%, while coconut cream reduced them by 85%.

Another placebo-controlled study found that 87.5% of patients using clobetasol saw an improvement in their condition, compared to just 62.5% of those using a placebo.

These studies indicate that while lichen planus usually gets better on its own over time, using Dermovate can certainly help speed up the improvement of your symptoms.

Yes, you'll need a prescription for Dermovate. A clinician will need to assess how severe your symptoms are before they can prescribe the ointment or cream.