What is Triamcinolone acetonide?

Triamcinolone acetonide is a topical treatment for lichen planus.

Lichen planus is a type of skin condition that’s triggered by an overactive immune response. When it affects the skin, it causes purplish-red, shiny bumps that are often itchy.[1]

But it can also affect:

• the mouth (causing sores or swollen gums)
• the nails (causing grooves or thinning)
• the hair (causing patches of loss)

The condition can remain dormant for long periods, but may be exacerbated by certain medications, or infections such as hepatitis C. Cases affecting the mouth can happen as a reaction to dental treatment.

It’s a cream that works by calming your immune response, which helps to ease swelling and itching.

This allows the affected skin to repair and the rash to heal.

How does Triamcinolone acetonide work?

Corticosteroids work by tempering your body’s autoimmune response, and this helps to reduce inflammation. So while it won’t cure the root cause of your rash, it can help reduce pain and discomfort when you have flare-ups.

What doses of Triamcinolone acetonide are there?

Triamcinolone acetonide comes as a 0.1% cream.

You can usually apply it to your skin up to three times a day, but how much you need each day will be determined by how severe your rash is and how you respond to treatment.

How to use Triamcinolone acetonide

Using a small amount, apply a thin layer of Triamcinolone acetonide cream to affected areas of skin.

The 0.1% cream is generally applied once daily for up to six weeks, but your physician will tell you exactly how much to use and how long for.

Avoid using more cream than you’ve been told to by your physician. Using too much may aggravate your skin, which could make your rash worse.