Topical corticosteroids are safety for pregnant women or not?

Question: Topical corticosteroid as triamcinolone acetonite 0.02%-0.1% cream, betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream, are they safety for pregnant women in every quarter or not? If using a short course not more than 2 weeks.

Answer: Corticosteroid that used external (including dosage form of cream) mostly classified into pregnancy category C according to FDA of USA. The data from the study in animals have shown that corticosteroids (for external use) can be absorbed into the body and could be harmful to the fetus. It should be used with caution when using medications that contain high concentrations.

There is information that the use of a high strength in large quantities more than 300 grams of drugs throughout the period of pregnancy is associated with low birth weight. But when consider to the risk of babies born with disabilities.

From data searching do not found that topical corticosteroid for external use increase the risk of impaired or premature infants. However, recommended that pregnant women, if required topical corticosteroid for external use, you should take drugs with a low to medium strength only and in the shortest time.

References:

1. Chi CC, Wang SH, Mayon-White R, Wojnarowska F. Pregnancy outcomes after maternal exposure to topical corticosteroids: a UK population-based cohort study. JAMA Dermatol 2013; 149: 1274-80.

2. Samarasekera EJ, Sawyer L, Wonderling D, Tucker R, Smith CH. Topical therapies for the treatment of plaque psoriasis: systematic review and network meta-analyses. Br J Dermatol 2013; 168: 954-67