Mometasone
Mometasone is a topical corticosteroid for eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis, sold here as Elocon 5g tubes to apply once a day to the affected skin.
What mometasone is used for
Mometasone is a corticosteroid that goes on the skin. It is the steroid in Elocon, and it is used for eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis — patches that turn red, scaly and itchy. Spread on a flare, it calms the skin where it is applied instead of the whole body, which is why a tube suits a short course on a stubborn patch.
The same ingredient appears in nasal sprays for hay fever and nasal polyps. That is a different preparation; what is sold here is for the skin.
How it works
A patch of eczema or psoriasis is inflamed because immune cells in the skin release signalling chemicals. Mometasone slows that release, so the small blood vessels stop leaking, the heat and redness fade and the itch quietens. Eczema and psoriasis are long-term conditions that flare and settle, and the steroid shortens a flare rather than preventing the next one. Moisturising the surrounding skin between flares does more for the underlying dryness than the steroid can.
Elocon: the tube you order
Elocon is a 5g tube of topical mometasone, part of the skin care range. Squeeze a thin film over the patch and rub it in gently once a day, usually after a bath or shower when the skin is clean and dry; wash your hands afterwards unless your hands are the area being treated. It should not be spread under a plaster or airtight dressing, and it is best kept away from the eyelids and the deep creases of the groin, where skin is thin and takes up more of the steroid. Once the patch has settled, the tube can be put away and the skin kept comfortable with moisturiser until the next flare.
Side effects
Burning, stinging, itching or dryness at the site can appear in the first few days and usually eases as the flare does. Weeks of continuous use, or repeated courses over the same patch, can thin the skin so that it looks shiny and bruises easily, and can leave stretch marks. Thinning shows up fastest on the face, in the armpits and in the groin.
What to leave it off
Skin that is already infected is not the place for a steroid: impetigo, athlete's foot, a cold sore or chickenpox spots can all worsen under mometasone, because it damps the reaction that fights the infection. Keep the tube out of the eyes, screw the cap back on, and store it somewhere cool and shaded.
Sources
- Mometasone Nasal Spray: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- NASONEX- mometasone furoate spray, metered — DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
Is Mometasone available to order in Hong Kong?
Mometasone can be ordered online from PockDose for delivery to Hong Kong. The page has generic Elocon 5g tubes, a topical corticosteroid for the skin. A parcel that does not arrive within the delivery window, or that arrives damaged, is sent again free, and if that is not possible the order is refunded.
How are Mometasone prices shown?
The price depends on the strength and pack size you choose. The Elocon page shows current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Mometasone?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order mometasone. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What brand names does mometasone have?
Elocon is a brand name of mometasone, which is also sold as Asmanex and Nasonex. Here, mometasone can be bought online as generic Elocon. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does mometasone take to work?
Most flares start to ease within a few days of the first application, itch first and redness after. A stubborn patch can take a week or two. If a patch keeps spreading after a week of daily use, carrying on with the same tube is unlikely to change that.
How much mometasone should I apply?
A thin film is enough; the skin should look slightly glossy, not caked. As a guide, a fingertip unit, a line squeezed from the tip of the index finger to the first crease, covers roughly two palms of skin.
Does mometasone thin the skin?
It can, when one patch is treated continuously for weeks or when courses are repeated. The skin turns shiny, bruises more easily and may tear, and stretch marks can follow. The face, armpits and groin show it first.
Can I use mometasone on my face?
Only briefly, if at all. Facial skin is thinner than the skin on arms and legs and takes up more of the steroid, so thinning and visible surface veins appear there sooner, which is why patches elsewhere are usually treated first.
Can I use mometasone with a moisturiser?
Yes — emollients are the everyday care for eczema and psoriasis, and a steroid for a flare sits alongside them. Many people apply the mometasone to the patch first, then moisturise the area afterwards, leaving a short gap between the two.