Eumovate Eczema and Dermatitis 0.05% Cream 15g
Clobetasone butyrate 0.05% — a moderately potent steroid cream for flare-ups of eczema and dermatitis.
- A step up from hydrocortisone when a mild steroid is not enough
- Apply sparingly, once or twice a day, for up to 7 days
- Adults and children 12+
- Not for the face, groin, genitals or infected skin
- Pharmacy (P) medicine — short suitability questions with your order
£11.49
Eumovate Eczema & Dermatitis Cream contains clobetasone butyrate 0.05%, a moderately potent topical steroid. It calms the redness, swelling and itch of a flare-up of eczema or dermatitis, and is a genuine step up from hydrocortisone when a mild steroid has not been enough.
This 15g pack is a Pharmacy (P) medicine — available without a prescription, but sold under the supervision of a pharmacist, so we will ask a few short suitability questions with your order.
What Eumovate cream is used for
Eumovate is licensed for the short-term treatment and control of patches of eczema and dermatitis, including:
- Atopic eczema — the common dry, itchy, inflamed form
- Primary irritant dermatitis — caused by contact with soaps, detergents or chemicals
- Allergic contact dermatitis — a reaction to something touching the skin, such as nickel
It settles an active flare. It is not a moisturiser and not a long-term treatment — emollients do the day-to-day work of keeping skin from flaring, and Eumovate is what you reach for when a patch flares anyway.
Where Eumovate sits on the steroid ladder
Topical steroids are grouped by strength, and picking the right rung matters more than most people realise:
- Mild (group I) — hydrocortisone 1%. Safe on thinner skin, often not strong enough for a stubborn patch.
- Moderately potent (group II) — Eumovate (clobetasone 0.05%). Roughly the strength most flares actually need.
- Potent (group III) — e.g. Betnovate. Prescription only.
- Very potent (group IV) — e.g. Dermovate. Prescription only.
If a flare is also infected — weeping, crusted or golden-yellow — a plain steroid is the wrong choice on its own, because steroids suppress the inflammation while the infection carries on. A combination product such as Trimovate exists for exactly that situation. Speak to our pharmacist rather than guessing.
How to apply Eumovate cream
- Apply sparingly to the affected area and rub in gently, once or twice a day.
- Use the fingertip unit to judge the amount: half a fingertip of cream covers a patch of skin about the size of the palm of your hand.
- Wash your hands afterwards, unless your hands are the area being treated.
- Apply emollient at a different time of day — putting moisturiser straight over the steroid dilutes it.
Use for no longer than seven days without medical advice. If the patch has not improved in that time, or is getting worse, stop and see your doctor rather than continuing.
Where not to use it
This is where a moderately potent steroid needs respect. Do not apply Eumovate to:
- The face — it can cause acne-like pustules and perioral dermatitis
- The eyes or eyelids
- The groin, genitals, or between the toes
- Broken, inflamed or infected skin
These areas either have thin skin that absorbs far more steroid, or are prone to the infections a steroid would mask.
Who should not use Eumovate
Do not use it if you are allergic to clobetasone butyrate or any of the other ingredients, or if the skin problem is:
- A viral infection — cold sores, herpes simplex, chickenpox or shingles
- A fungal infection — thrush, ringworm or athlete's foot
- A bacterial infection — impetigo
- Rosacea, acne vulgaris, or itching without a rash
Eumovate is for adults and children aged 12 and over. It should only be used in children under 12 on a doctor's advice, as children absorb proportionally more steroid and need shorter courses of milder preparations.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to a doctor before using it — and if you are breastfeeding, never apply it to the breasts. You can browse the rest of our skin care range, and our pharmacist is available if you are unsure which strength you need.
Always read the label and the patient information leaflet before use.
Medically reviewed by Hassan Khan, MPharm, Independent Prescriber — Superintendent Pharmacist, Bury Healthcare Online (GPhC-registered pharmacy 1126145). Last reviewed: July 2026.
Eumovate cream: frequently asked questions
What is Eumovate cream used for?
Eumovate is used for the short-term treatment of flare-ups of eczema and dermatitis — atopic eczema, irritant dermatitis from soaps or chemicals, and allergic contact dermatitis such as a nickel reaction. It contains clobetasone butyrate 0.05%, a moderately potent steroid that reduces the redness, swelling and itch. It treats the flare; it does not prevent the next one, which is what regular emollient use is for.
Can you buy Eumovate over the counter?
Yes — the 15g Eumovate Eczema & Dermatitis 0.05% Cream is a Pharmacy (P) medicine, so you can buy it without a prescription, but only from a pharmacy and under a pharmacist's supervision. That is why we ask a few short suitability questions with your order. Larger packs and other clobetasone products remain prescription-only.
Is Eumovate a steroid cream?
Yes. Eumovate contains clobetasone butyrate 0.05%, classed as a moderately potent (group II) topical corticosteroid. That puts it a step above hydrocortisone 1% and below prescription-only potent steroids such as Betnovate. Used correctly — sparingly, for up to seven days, on the right areas — it has a well-established safety record.
How strong is Eumovate compared to hydrocortisone?
Noticeably stronger. Hydrocortisone 1% is a mild (group I) steroid; Eumovate is moderately potent (group II). If hydrocortisone has not settled a patch of eczema, Eumovate is the logical next step. The trade-off is that it should not go on the face, groin or genitals, where hydrocortisone is sometimes used with care.
Can I use Eumovate on my face?
No. Eumovate should not be used on the face. Facial skin is thin and absorbs far more of the steroid, and clobetasone on the face can cause acne-like pustules and perioral dermatitis — a persistent rash around the mouth that can be difficult to clear. If you have facial eczema, ask our pharmacist or your GP for something appropriate for that area.
How long can you use Eumovate for?
Up to seven days without medical advice. If the patch has not improved within a week, or it is getting worse, stop and see your doctor rather than carrying on. Longer courses are sometimes prescribed and supervised, but that is a decision for a prescriber, not a self-treatment choice.
How much Eumovate should I apply?
Sparingly. Use the fingertip unit as your guide: squeeze cream from the tip of your finger to the first crease, and half of that will cover a patch of skin the size of your palm. Applying it thickly does not work better — it just increases how much steroid your skin absorbs.
Can I use Eumovate on infected or weeping eczema?
No, not on its own. Eumovate is contraindicated on infected skin, because the steroid damps down inflammation while the infection continues underneath. Signs of infection include weeping, golden-yellow crusting, increasing pain or spreading redness. That needs either an antibiotic or a combination steroid product — speak to our pharmacist or your GP.
Can children use Eumovate?
It is suitable from age 12. Under 12, it should only be used on a doctor's advice, because children absorb proportionally more steroid through their skin and generally need shorter courses of milder treatments. For a young child's eczema, start with emollients and speak to your GP.
Can I use Eumovate with my moisturiser?
Yes, and you should keep moisturising — emollients are what keep eczema settled between flares. Just leave a gap rather than layering them at the same moment, since applying moisturiser directly over the steroid dilutes it and spreads it beyond where you want it. Many people use the steroid at one end of the day and emollient at the other.
