Dermatology reference / Canada

Topical steroid potency map

Sources & scope

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30 formulations · All potencies

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Low

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Medium

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High

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Very high

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The body-site atlas

Explore the skin by region.

Select a site for usual adult potency, common steroid options and practical precautions.

7 regions · Front & back

Anterior view

Face & neckRead guide

Tap the skin or a labelBODY ATLAS

Select a labelled region to explore skin-site guidance.

Adult anatomy illustration.

Selected region

Face & neck

Thin skin, precise treatment

Usual adult range

Low · facial or neck eczema

For assessed adult facial or neck atopic dermatitis, low potency is the usual steroid range. Persistent or recurrent disease may need a nonsteroidal option and review rather than repeated stronger steroid use.

AHS four-band classification.

Face & neck selected. Overview shown.

Common steroid options

Formulation details, label notes and sources.

Low-potency example for affected facial or neck skin. Nonprescription labeling excludes use around the eyes; an eyelid plan is separate.

Prescription low-potency example for assessed dermatitis. The Canadian label cautions near the eye and does not authorize ophthalmic use.

Skin & absorption context

Use a plan made for facial skin.

Correctly selected treatment can settle facial eczema. Identify the rash first: acne, rosacea and infection are not treated by simply choosing a lower potency.

Skin & absorption

Greater through thin skin

Face and neck are sensitive sites. Eyelids need an additional, eye-specific check.

Potency in context

Canadian atopic dermatitis guidance favours low-potency steroids on sensitive sites. Recurrent disease may need a clinician-selected nonsteroidal option.

Evidence for this region 9

Canadian consensus: atopic dermatitis topical therapy
2025 consensus. Supports sensitive-site selection, assessment, emollients and nonsteroidal alternatives; not a product authorization list.
Health Canada: topical corticosteroid safety
July 2022. Amount, duration, sensitive areas, pediatric exposure and rare withdrawal reactions after prolonged or inappropriate use.
AAP: absorption, age and occlusion
Explains thin skin versus palms/soles and increased exposure with occlusion. US guidance does not establish Canadian product age approval.
Guy's and St Thomas': topical steroid formulations and use
Reviewed January 2025. Vehicle properties and application principles only; its UK potency table is not used by the map.
NHS: eczema symptoms needing urgent assessment
Rapid worsening, pain, warmth, swelling, pus, blisters and systemic illness can indicate infection or eczema herpeticum.
ELOCOM: Canadian product monograph
September 2025. Example of product-specific age, eye-contact and occlusion restrictions; not a recommendation to choose ELOCOM.
AHS Calgary ASL-01: formulation-specific potency bands
March 31, 2026 document, page 5. Sole source of the map's four product bands; its comparative table cites a 2009 handbook. Not a site-prescribing guide.
Health Canada: nonprescription topical hydrocortisone monograph
July 25, 2025. Includes 0.25–1% preparations. Label directions exclude use around eyes, large body areas and diaper rash; product-specific ages and directions still apply.
Canadian pdp-DESONIDE product monograph
March 26, 2021. Desonide 0.05% cream and ointment for inflammatory dermatoses; not ophthalmic; untreated infections and exposure under occlusion require attention.

Evidence & scope

Know what the map tells you.

This reference uses the four potency bands in the Alberta Health Services Calgary Zone topical corticosteroid table (March 2026). Other references may classify a formulation differently; relevant differences are noted in its details.

Sources checked: 5 November 2026.

AHS Calgary: topical corticosteroid potency groupsASL-01, page 5; revised March 31, 2026. The sole source for this map's four potency bands. This institutional formulary cites a 2009 comparative chart; its substitution rules do not apply to this tool.IWK Health: comparison of potency groupingsUpdated November 2022. Used to disclose differences between Canadian references, not to change AHS group assignments.Health Canada: topical corticosteroid safetyJuly 2022 safety brief: treatment duration, sensitive areas, children, and rare withdrawal reactions after prolonged or inappropriate use.American Academy of Pediatrics: age and body-site considerationsGeneral absorption and safety guidance. Does not establish Canadian product authorization or this map's potency assignments.

Product references (9)

ELOCOM: Canadian product monographSeptember 19, 2025. Confirms mometasone furoate 0.1% cream, ointment and lotion; includes product-specific restrictions.Taro: BETADERM creamManufacturer reference for the betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream brand example.Taro: BETADERM ointmentManufacturer reference for the betamethasone valerate 0.1% ointment brand example.DIPROSONE: Canadian product informationConfirms the 0.05% cream, ointment and lotion brand examples. Consult the current monograph for prescribing.DIPROLENE: Canadian product monographSeptember 4, 2014. Historical brand reference for the augmented glycol formulations; not a current marketing-status claim.LIDEX: Canadian product monographMarch 25, 2021. Confirms the fluocinonide 0.05% cream example; do not generalize to emollient formulations.RAMQ: clobetasol product identitiesProduct identity support for DERMOVATE 0.05% cream and ointment. This map makes no provincial coverage claim.DERMOVATE scalp application: Canadian product monographHistorical Canadian product identity for the 0.05% scalp application; not a current marketing-status claim.Health Canada Drug Product DatabaseCheck the exact product, current Canadian status and latest monograph before use.