Class I is the strongest, or superpotent. Class VII is the weakest and mildest. Class I
Very potent: up to 600 times stronger than hydrocortisone

Clobetasol propionate 0.05% (Dermovate)
Betamethasone dipropionate 0.25% (Diprolene)
Halobetasol propionate 0.05% (Ultravate, Halox)
Diflorasone diacetate 0.05% (Psorcon)

Class II
Fluocinonide 0.05% (Lidex)
Halcinonide 0.05% (Halog)
Amcinonide 0.05% (Cyclocort)
Desoximetasone 0.25% (Topicort)

Class III
Triamcinolone acetonide 0.5% (Kenalog, Aristocort cream)
Mometasone furoate 0.1% (Elocon, Elocom ointment)
Fluticasone propionate 0.005% (Cutivate)
Betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% (Diprosone)
Halometasone 0.05%

Class IV
Fluocinolone acetonide 0.01-0.2% (Synalar, Synemol, Fluonid)
Hydrocortisone valerate 0.2% (Westcort)
Hydrocortisone butyrate 0.1% (Locoid)
Flurandrenolide 0.05% (Cordran)
Triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% (Kenalog, Aristocort A ointment)
Mometasone furoate 0.1% (Elocon cream, lotion)

Class V
Fluticasone propionate 0.05% (Cutivate cream)
Desonide 0.05% (Tridesilon, DesOwen ointment)
Fluocinolone acetonide 0.025% (Synalar, Synemol cream)
Hydrocortisone valerate 0.2% (Westcort cream)

Class VI
Alclometasone dipropionate 0.05% (Aclovate cream, ointment)
Triamcinolone acetonide 0.025% (Aristocort A cream, Kenalog lotion)
Fluocinolone acetonide 0.01% (Capex shampoo, Dermasmooth)
Desonide 0.05% (DesOwen cream, lotion)

Class VII
The weakest class of topical steroids. Has poor lipid permeability, and can not penetrate mucous membranes well. Hydrocortisone 2.5% (Hytone cream, lotion, ointment)
Hydrocortisone 1% (Many over-the-counter brands)

Five-class System
Japan rates topical steroids from 1 to 5, with 1 being strongest. Four-class System
Many countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, recognize 4 classes. In the United Kingdom and New Zealand I is the strongest, while in Continental Europe, class IV is regarded as the strongest.
Class IV (UK/NZ: class I)
Very potent (up to 600 times as potent as hydrocortisone)

Clobetasol propionate (Dermovate Cream/Ointment, Exel Cream)
Betamethasone dipropionate (Diprosone OV Cream/Ointment, Diprovate Cream)

Class III (UK/NZ: class II)
Potent (50–100 times as potent as hydrocortisone)

Betamethasone valerate (Beta Cream/Ointment/Scalp Application, Betnovate Lotion/C Cream/C Ointment, Fucicort)
Betamethasone dipropionate (Diprosone Cream/Ointment, Diprovate Cream, Daivobet 50/500 Ointment)
Diflucortolone valerate (Nerisone C/Cream/Fatty Ointment/Ointment)
Hydrocortisone 17-butyrate (Locoid C/Cream/Crelo Topical Emulsion/Lipocream/Ointment/Scalp Lotion)
Mometasone furoate (Elocon Cream/Lotion/Ointment)
Methylprednisolone aceponate (Advantan Cream/Ointment)
Halometasone 0.05%

Class II (UK/NZ: class III)
Moderate (2–25 times as potent as hydrocortisone) 

Clobetasone butyrate (Eumovate Cream)
Triamcinolone acetonide (Aristocort Cream/Ointment, Viaderm KC Cream/Ointment, Kenacomb Ointment)

Class I (UK/NZ: class IV)
Mild

Hydrocortisone 0.5–2.5% (DermAid Cream/Soft Cream, DP Lotion-HC 1%, Skincalm, Lemnis Fatty Cream HC, Pimafucort Cream/Ointment)

Allergy associations
The highlighted steroids are often used in the screening of allergies to topical steroid and systemic steroids. When one is allergic to one group, one is allergic to all steroids in that group. Group A
Hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone acetate, cortisone acetate, tixocortol pivalate, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, and prednisone

Group B
Triamcinolone acetonide, triamcinolone alcohol, amcinonide, budesonide, desonide, fluocinonide, fluocinolone acetonide, and halcinonide

Group C
Betamethasone, betamethasone sodium phosphate, dexamethasone, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, and fluocortolone

Group D
Hydrocortisone 17-butyrate, hydrocortisone-17-valerate, alclometasone dipropionate, betamethasone valerate, betamethasone dipropionate, prednicarbate, clobetasone-17-butyrate, Clobetasol-17 propionate, fluocortolone caproate, fluocortolone pivalate, fluprednidene acetate, and mometasone furoate

History
Corticosteroids were first made available for general use around 1950. See also
Topical medication
Glucocorticoid
Corticosteroid
Retrometabolic drug design


== References ==