FINGERTIP UNITS FOR
STEROIDS
What are topical steroids
and how do they work?
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.
This is why a standard measure is often used - the fingertip
unit.
Fingertip
units
One fingertip unit (FTU) is the amount of topical
steroid that is squeezed out from a standard tube along an adults
fingertip. (This assumes the tube has a standard 5 mm nozzle.) A
finger tip 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.
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 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
|
Fingertip units and
children
An FTU of cream or ointment is measured on an adult
index finger before being rubbed onto 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 3-6 month old child
-
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 abdomen - 1 FTU
-
The entire back
including buttocks - 1.5 FTUs
For a 1-2 year old child
-
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 3-5 year old child
-
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 6-10 year old child
-
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
Further help and
information
National
Eczema Society
Hill House, Highgate Hill, London, N19 5NA
Tel (Helpline): 0800 089 1122 Web: www.eczema.org
References
1. CHOOSE AND BOOK
