Betamethasone is a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat skin symptoms including inflammation, itching, crusting and scaling. Betamethasone may be sold as a generic drug or under brands including Diprolene and Valisone.
Betamethasone is a highly potent corticosteroid. It is believed that Betamethasone works by suppressing immune system activity.
Prescribing information states that Betamethasone is generally applied topically to the affected area one to four times a day.
Betamethasone comes in different strengths and in forms including lotion, cream, ointment, and aerosol spray.
The FDA-approved label for Betamethasone lists common side effects including dryness, cracking, burning, itching, and change in skin color. Topical corticosteroids have also been known to cause red or white bumps on the skin, acne, excessive hair growth, skin atrophy (thinning and wrinkling of skin and/or visible depressions), stretch marks, spider veins, and perioral dermatitis (rash around the mouth).
Rare but serious side effects for corticosteroids include high blood sugar and reversible hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression (a dysfunction of the adrenal system).