If you hit links we provide, we may receive compensation.
I have mad respect for the power of cortisone cream most derms do.
And she is certainly right.
Photo: Hiraman/Getty
We put it on almost everything.
Dermatologists rely on cortisone multiple times a day in and out of the office to quell skin woes.
It’s the OG, untouched by other topical competitors.
Courtesy of Amazon and Manufacturers
Here’s your guide.
What Exactly Is Cortisone Cream?
So, what is this magic cream anyway?
Cortisone (also called steroid) cream is a bottled, synthetic version of all-natural, anti-inflammatory cortisol.
The answer: It’s also a corticosteroid and helps to relieve inflammation in various parts of the body.
How to Use Cortisone Cream
Sounds all good in the derm neighborhood, right?
But there are, as is to be expected, a few caveats.
While it is safe to use for most, you shouldn’t use it as aneveryday skin-care cream.
The bottom line: It can treata lotof skin issues.
Have a hardly used tube of it in your bathroom cabinet?
Ahead is a guide to all the scenarios in which this little miracle worker can come in handy.
Enter misery, stage left.
Luckily, cool compresses and some cortisone cream can do wonders.
Bug Bites
Ever wonder why your flesh is the feast bugs choose?
They eat me alive.
Cool cortisone quickly decreases itch and puffiness.
Nasty, I know, embarrassing, too, given my profession.
And that ashiness can itch.
This condition is calledwinter itchand is a form of eczema.
(Need relief from eczema?
Check outmore expert-approved creams.)
To lessen the pain, first, seek shade.
Drink loads of water to keep your body and skin adequately hydrated, and lastly, never fry again.
Cold Sores
Cold sores are a form of theherpesvirus.
A little dab right on a pimple can make all the difference in the world.
This will make the lesion less obvious, less red, and much more likely to resolve quickly.
Just don’t slather it all over your face, as that can make acne worse.
Instead, put a deliberate dose right on the zit similar to anacne spot treatment for optimal results.
It is also beneficial to identify any potential triggers so that they can be eliminated or used differently.
