Betacort Side Effects

Generic name: betamethasone topical

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 13, 2023.

Note: This document contains side effect information about betamethasone topical. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Betacort.

Applies to betamethasone topical: topical application cream, topical application lotion, topical application ointment, topical application spray. Other dosage forms:

• topical application cream, topical application foam, topical application lotion, topical application ointment

Serious side effects of Betacort

Along with its needed effects, betamethasone topical (the active ingredient contained in Betacort) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking betamethasone topical:

More common

• Burning or stinging
• itching at the application site

Less common

• Blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin
• cracking or tightening of the skin
• dry skin
• flushing or redness of the skin
• irritation
• itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin
• thinning of the skin with easy bruising, especially when used on the face or where the skin folds together (eg, between the fingers)
• unusually warm skin

Rare

• Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

Incidence not known

• Blindness
• blurred vision
• change in vision
• decreased vision
• eye pain
• headache
• loss of vision
• nausea
• redness and scaling around the mouth
• tearing
• vomiting

Other side effects of Betacort

Some side effects of betamethasone topical may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

• Raised, dark red, or wart-like spots on the skin, especially when used on the face

Rare

• Burning, itching, and pain in hairy areas, or pus at the root of the hair

Incidence not known

• Acne or pimples
• burning and itching of the skin with pinhead-sized red blisters
• increased hair growth on the forehead, back, arms, and legs
• lightening of normal skin color
• lightening of treated areas of dark skin
• reddish purple lines on the arms, face, legs, trunk, or groin
• softening of the skin

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to betamethasone topical: topical cream, topical foam, topical gel, topical lotion, topical ointment, topical spray.

General

The most commonly reported side effects were pruritus, burning, itching, irritation.

Hypersensitivity

Rare (less than 0.1%): Hypersensitivity

Endocrine

Frequency not reported: Cushing's syndrome^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Folliculitis, skin infections (including bacterial, fungal and viral skin infections)

Frequency not reported: Dryness, hypertrichosis, acneiform eruptions, hypopigmentation, perioral dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, maceration of the skin, secondary infections, skin atrophy, striae, miliaria^[Ref]

Local

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Application site pain

Frequency not reported: Burning, itching, irritation^[Ref]

Ocular

Rare (less than 0.1%): Eye disorder

Postmarketing reports: cataracts, glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure, central serous chorioretinopathy^[Ref]

Metabolic

Frequency not reported: Hyperglycemia

Renal

Frequency not reported: Glucosuria

Other

Rare (less than 0.1%): Rebound effect

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer