A Complete Guide to Topical Steroid Ointment Classes | 2026 Edition

In dermatitis care, we quite often see patients whose dermatitis has become chronic or worsened due to overuse of topical steroid ointments.

Topical steroid ointments are like a reliable “emergency brake.” Used in the right place at the right time, they are one of the best tools—but used incorrectly, they can harm your skin.

That is why it is important for patients to understand how to use them properly. However, much of the topical steroid ointment class information online is outdated, so we have organized the most up-to-date information as of 2026.

2026 Topical Steroid Ointment Table

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Topical steroid potency is divided from Class 1 (strongest) to Class 7 (mildest).¹

If you use a strong steroid for too long, side effects such as thinning of the skin (skin atrophy) or enlarged blood vessels (telangiectasia) may occur,² whereas if you use one that is too mild, the inflammation may not be controlled and you may continue to suffer.

Because use differs by formulation, we organized the table by ointment, cream, lotion, and solution/gel.

Formulation	Features	Use
Ointment	Sticky but highly absorbent	Suitable for thick, callused areas such as the palms and soles
Cream	Good moisturizing effect; does not clog pores	Suitable for the face
Lotion	Slight moisturizing effect; thin and easy to spread	Suitable when the affected area is large
Gel · Solution	Non-sticky	Suitable for the scalp or acute lesions with oozing/exudation

Ointment

Class	Product
Class 1 (very strong)	Clobeta Ointment Difuko Ointment 0.3%
Class 2 (strong)	Detason Ointment 0.25% Espason Ointment 0.25%
Class 4 (moderate)	Advantan Ointment Erocom Ointment
Class 5 (moderate)	Dermatop Ointment
Class 7 (very mild)	JR Hydrocortisone Ointment

Cream

Class	Product
Class 2 (strong)	Difra Cream 0.05% Dicron Cream Neoderm Cream (combination) Sterosynji Cream (combination) Demacot Cream (combination) Silcron Cream (combination) Lavenda Cream (combination) Ridex Cream 0.05%
Class 3 (strong)	Ribeca Cream 0.05%
Class 4 (moderate)	Ecoron Cream (combination) Tricot Cream Advantan Cream Erocom Cream Dermotason Cream Dermetason Cream Labelia Cream
Class 5 (moderate)	Dermatop Cream Bade Cream Ridomex Cream 0.3% Bosong Cream Silcade Cream Pretop Cream Private Cream TTB Cream Celestone-G Cream (combination) Demacot-S Cream (combination)
Class 6 (mild)	Desona Cream Desoderm Cream Desonia Cream
Class 7 (very mild)	Ridomex Cream 0.15%

Lotion

Class	Product
Class 3 (strong)	Espason Lotion 0.25% Detason Lotion 0.25%
Class 6 (mild)	Ridomex Lotion 0.3% Topiderm Lotion Desowen Lotion
Class 7 (very mild)	Lacticare HC Lotion 1% · 2.5% Dermacure Lotion 2.5% Hatison Lotion Codicare Lotion

Solution · Gel

Class	Product
Class 1 (very strong)	Dermovate Solution Craven Solution
Class 2 (strong)	Espason Gel 0.05%
Class 5 (moderate)	Dermatop Solution

※ “Combination products” contain a steroid together with an antibiotic or antifungal agent.

“Application area” is just as important as class and formulation

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When choosing a topical steroid, you must also consider where you will apply it. This is because the body’s ability to absorb medication can differ by dozens of times depending on the area.³

Use a mild class on thin skin and a stronger class on thick skin. It is like how water soaks into thin paper quickly, but takes much longer to soak into thick cardboard.

Also, areas where the skin folds—such as the groin or armpits—absorb medication well, so you should use a lower class.⁴

Skin condition at the application site

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From the perspective of treating dermatitis, what I feel is most important is the condition of the skin at the area where you apply topical steroid ointment.

The more damaged the skin barrier is, the more absorption increases; and the more the skin has become thick and hardened from chronic atopic dermatitis, the more absorption decreases.

Use a mild class when the skin barrier is very weak, and a stronger class when the skin is thick and hardened.

Ointments available without a prescription

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This is something many people are curious about.

Over-the-counter topical steroids that you can buy directly at a pharmacy usually fall into the milder classes.

Class 7 (mildest): Used for mild itching or insect bites. Hatison Lotion, Lacticare, and Ridomex 0.15% fall into this category. For reference, Ridomex comes in blue and red packaging: the blue one is the 0.15% version available at pharmacies, while the red one is the 0.3% version that can only be purchased with a prescription.

Class 5: Surprisingly, some fairly strong Class 5 topical steroid ointments—such as Celestone-G—can also be purchased at pharmacies. However, because the potency is relatively high and it contains an antibiotic, you must apply it with great caution to prevent side effects.

Four key factors that determine effectiveness

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In summary, the actual effectiveness of topical steroid ointments is determined by the following five factors.

1. Class: The lower the number (Class 1 vs. Class 7), the stronger it is.
2. Skin thickness: The thinner the skin (such as the face and eyelids), the more absorption increases.
3. Skin folds: Areas where the skin folds, such as the armpits or groin, have increased absorption.
4. Skin condition: The more severe the dermatitis/eczema, the more absorption increases.

Moisturizers and topical steroid ointments

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When used together with a moisturizer, topical steroid ointments can achieve the same effect with a smaller amount. For details, please refer to Topical Steroid Guide and MD Cream Guide.

Alternatives to topical steroids

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If you are concerned about the side effects of topical steroids, calcineurin inhibitors may be an alternative. For details, please refer to Protopic Guide and Elidel Guide.

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References

1. Bowie AC, Engelmayer AL, Engelmayer JP, et al. Agreement and Correlation Between Different Topical Corticosteroid Potency Classification Systems. JAMA Dermatol. 2022;158(7):787-795.
2. Feldmann RJ, Maibach HI. Regional variation in percutaneous penetration of 14C cortisol in man. J Invest Dermatol. 1967;48(2):181-183.
3. Barnes L, Kaya G, Rollason V. Topical corticosteroid-induced skin atrophy: a comprehensive review. Drug Saf. 2015;38(5):493-509.
4. Coondoo A, Phiske M, Verma S, et al. Side-effects of topical steroids: A long overdue revisit. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2014;5(4):436-440.