Medicines Management Department

Fingertip unit for topical steroids

Fingertip unit describes a convenient way to measure how much cream to apply on a
patient with skin disease. A fingertip unit describes the amount of cream squeezed out of
its tube onto the end of the finger as shown:

Fingertip unit

The dose of cream in a fingertip unit varies with age:

Adult male: one fingertip unit provides 0.5 g

Adult female: one fingertip unit provides 0.4 g
Child of 4 years: approximately 1/3 of adult amount
Infants 6 months to 1 year: approximately 1/4 of adult amount

The amount of cream used varies with body part:

One hand: apply one fingertip unit

One arm: apply three fingertip units
One foot: apply two fingertip units
One leg: apply six fingertip units
Face and neck: apply 2.5 fingertip units
Trunk, front & back: 14 fingertip units
Entire body: about 40 units

Topical Preparations
Creams/Ointments - containing a steroid, e.g. Fucidin H, Betnovate, should
be applied thinly up to twice daily. Treatment should be reviewed after 7 -
10 days and referred back to GP if problem persists.

Emollients - hydrate the skin e.g. Diprobase, E45 and Doublebase These
can be applied liberally to the skin up to four times a day and can be used
regularly for a prolonged period for maintenance of condition.

Accurate measurement is particularly important for topical steroids.