Betnovate

Betnovate (betamethasone) cream, ointment, or lotions to treat moderately severe eczema. Available to buy online from Dr Fox.

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Buy Betnovate online in UK

How to order Betnovate online for UK delivery:

  1. Read medical information about eczema treatment
  2. Answer medical questions to check for eligibility
  3. Reviewed by doctors - posted from UK pharmacy (tracked 24hr service)

Prices

Eczema treatment Quantity Cost
Betnovate cream 1 x 30gm tube £7.60
Betnovate cream 1 x 100gm tube £15.60
Betnovate ointment 1 x 30gm tube £7.60
Betnovate ointment 1 x 100gm tube £15.60
Betamethasone cream (generic Betnovate) 1 x 30gm tube £4.60
Betamethasone cream (generic Betnovate) 2 x 30gm tube £8.00
Betamethasone ointment (generic Betnovate) 1 x 30gm tube £4.80
Betamethasone ointment (generic Betnovate) 2 x 30gm tube £8.35
Betnovate lotion 1 x 100ml £12.40
Betnovate scalp application 1 x 100ml £11.20
Betacap scalp (betamethasone) 1 x 100ml £9.80
DiproSone lotion (betamethasone) 1 x 100ml £16.50

Price match guarantee
Prescription issued online - small prescription fee per order.

Compare prices: Dr Fox prices are 25%-50% lower cost than other online clinics.

Prescription fees

Dr Fox supplies medicine on prescription and charges a small prescription fee based on the order value of each prescription.

Prescriptions are issued by our doctors online and sent electronically to our pharmacy.

Order value Prescription fee
up to £10 £1.00
up to £20 £2.00
up to £40 £3.00
over £40 £4.00

If you have your own private paper prescription please post to our pharmacy (details).

Dr Fox prices are 25%–50% lower than other UK online clinics.

Comparative costs of Betnovate from UK online clinics (15 September 2023) - qualifying notes
*Dr Fox adds a small prescription fee not included in table above.
  1. The prices shown are listed by the online clinics named after a customer first enters consultation information and is offered prescriptions. It is possible these clinics may have special offers or lower prices for repeat supplies.
  2. Prices may change and are, to the best of our knowledge, accurate on the date stated. All products in stock and new condition.
  3. Dr Fox does NOT claim to provide a superior service to any of the online clinics listed. All the clinics listed, as far as we can tell, comply with all regulation and, as far as we can tell, operate to high ethical standards.
  4. Dr Fox adds a small prescription fee not included in the table (between £1 and £4 depending on value of the order).
  5. To amend the information in this table please contact us
  6. The prices listed in the table do not identify the cost of prescription medicine as online clinics charge a single fee to cover services which includes advice, consultations, prescriptions and dispensing and supply of treatments.
  7. Where services include free delivery this is using the slowest delivery option available. Dr Fox uses Royal Mail Tracked 24.
Treatment Dr Fox* Cloud Pharmacy UK Meds Simple Online Pharmacy Oxford Online Pharmacy
Betnovate cream/ointment x 30gm £7.60 n/a £14.99 £8.99 n/a
Betnovate cream/ointment x 100gm £15.60 £22.99 £20.99 £17.49 £17.48

Delivery charges

UK delivery only: £2.90 per consultation via Royal Mail Tracked 24 Signed For (1-2 working days with tracking).

Parcel forwarding services are not permitted. Use only UK home or work delivery address.

Returns and refunds - unwanted items can be returned within 14 working days for a full refund.

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About Betnovate

  • Betnovate is a prescription-only strong corticosteroid to treat moderately severe eczema.
  • Betnovate contains the active ingredient betamethasone and is available as a cream, ointment, lotion, and scalp application.
  • Use once or twice daily on affected areas of the body, arms, legs, and scalp only - maximum 4 weeks use. Not for use on the face.
  • Read the patient leaflet for a full list of side effects, cautions, and interactions with other drugs.

Betnovate cream, ointment, and lotion

Betnovate is a potent steroid for once or twice daily treatment to moderately severe eczema, on the body, arms, and legs. It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and contains the active ingredient betamethasone. Branded Betnovate and generic betamethasone are both available from Dr Fox as a cream, ointment, or lotion.

Betnovate for the scalp

Betamethasone is also available in several lotion forms for use on scalp eczema. Dr Fox offers two Betnovate branded scalp products - Betnovate lotion and Betnovate scalp which contain betamethasone 0.122%, and two other scalp products: Betacap - 0.1% betamethasone; and Diprosone lotion - 0.05% betamethasone.

About eczema

Eczema is a condition with areas of dry inflamed skin. Inflammation and loss of natural skin oils causes drying out of the skin. Dry skin is not an effective barrier at keeping toxins and irritants out of the body. This then leads to further inflammation and a cycle of drying, inflammation, and more drying.

Treating eczema on the body, arms, and legs

Eczema on the body, arms, and legs is best treated with frequent use of moisturising emollients, but in most cases there will be a time when this is not enough to control the sore inflamed skin. Adding a steroid (cream, ointment, or lotion) like Betnovate will reduce the skin inflammation and enable you to regain control. Betnovate should be used if the eczema is moderate or moderately severe.

How to use Betnovate on the body, arms, and legs

Betnovate should be applied once or twice a day, using it less frequently once skin begins to get better. Moisturising emollients should be continued whilst using Betnovate. Apply your usual emollient and wait at least 15 minutes before applying the Betnovate. Apply a thin amount of Betnovate being guided by the fingertip units for the area affected. Wash hands after use.

Moisturising emollients (lotions, creams, and ointments) restore softening oils to the skin, and rehydrate it. Ointments have a stronger protective barrier effect, so Betnovate ointment is more effective than Betnovate cream. The ointment can feel greasier and look shiny on the skin and so may be better used at night.

Use the Betnovate cream or ointment until the eczema has completely settled. This may only take a couple of days, or a bit longer, but do not use for more than 4 weeks at a time.

Once the eczema has settled, continue frequent moisturising emollient use to reduce the risk of a flare-up and the need to use Betnovate cream or ointment again.

Do not use more Betnovate, or apply for longer than recommended as this increases the risk of side effects.

How to use betamethasone scalp products

Itching scalp eczema can be treated with a once or twice daily lotion of betamethasone to the inflamed scalp skin. The lotion should be applied to the clean and dry scalp, and massaged into the affected skin. It is usually easiest to part the hair in stages and massage the lotion into the skin down the parting. This is easier with an assistant. Wash hands after use.

The following video relates to similar products being used for psoriasis, but shows the lotion application technique clearly (from 49 seconds):

Video from Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

Cautions and side effects

Betnovate is too strong to use on the face. It should only be used on eczema on the torso, arms, legs, and scalp.

Betnovate cream, ointment, and lotion contain paraffin which is flammable. The paraffin may be absorbed on clothing and bedding, which should be washed regularly to reduce fire risk. Keep away from naked flames.

Betnovate scalp, Betacap lotion, and Diprosone lotion do not contain paraffin. However, the manufacturers still recommend care around use as they are also flammable. It is advised not to blow-dry hair after these products have been used on the scalp.

Rarely other ingredients in Betnovate may cause skin reactions. If eczema worsens when using Betnovate, stop the treatment and consult your GP or skin specialist.

Overusing Betnovate/betamethasone on the skin may cause skin thinning and stretch marks. This is much more of a problem if using steroids as tablets or injections for conditions other than eczema. Betnovate should be used for the shortest time necessary to control the eczema and not for longer than 4 weeks at a time. If eczema is not settling consult your GP or skin specialist.

Steroid tablet use has been linked with development of cataracts and other problems in the eyes. This is extremely unlikely with Betnovate but if you develop any blurring of vision consult your GP.

Covering the skin after applying treatment, with bandages or gloves is not recommended as in theory it can lead to absorption into the body and more general side effects, including in extreme cases, Cushing's syndrome.

Further information on side effects can be found in the manufacturer's patient leaflets.

When NOT to use Betnovate/betamethasone

Do not use Betnovate/betamethasone cream, ointment, or betamethasone lotions if:

  • Eczema is on the face.
  • You have not had a medical diagnosis of eczema.
  • There are signs of infected skin: pus, weeping, swollen, tender, throbbing, spreading redness.
  • You have active cold sores, herpes, shingles, or chickenpox.
  • On broken skin or near active leg ulcers.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It is recommended to avoid all medicines when pregnant or breastfeeding. However, it is probably safe to use small amounts of Betnovate/betamethasone cream, ointment, or lotion on eczema during pregnancy, or when breastfeeding (but not on the breasts).

Discuss first with your GP. Dr Fox does not prescribe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

See also Best use of medicines in pregnancy - Corticosteroids.

Patient Information Leaflet

Illustration of patient leaflet from medicine packet

The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine and must be read before taking the medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine.

Betnovate cream patient leaflet
Betnovate ointment patient leaflet
Betnovate lotion patient leaflet
Betnovate scalp application patient leaflet
Betacap scalp application patient leaflet
DiproSone lotion patient leaflet

Dr Amanda Wood

Authored 14 July 2021 by Dr A. Wood
MB ChB Manchester University 1984. NHS GP in Bristol. GMC no. 2855422

Reviewed by Dr A. Wood, Dr C. Pugh, Dr B. Babor
Last reviewed 15 September 2023
Last updated 18 March 2024

References

Recent Betnovate reviews

Betnovate rated 4.78/5 in 58 product reviews

See over 40,000 service reviews of Dr Fox

Betnovate (betamethasone)

Excellent service

15 March 2024
Y. Muela Verified

Betnovate (betamethasone)

Good product

20 February 2024
R. Nazif Verified

Betnovate (betamethasone)

Great product

12 February 2024
Anonymous Verified

Betnovate (betamethasone)

Works well stops itching for 12 hours

10 February 2024
I. Taylor Verified

Betnovate (betamethasone)

Great product betnovate cream always does the job lasts ages

02 February 2024
L. Banawich Verified

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