Eczema and Dermatitis Treatment in Holborn, London — from £5.10
Ways Pharmacy offers a private pharmacist-led service for mild to moderate eczema and dermatitis, including flare-ups. We are a GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises number 9012227) at 77 Southampton Row, Holborn WC1, around two minutes' walk from the British Museum. You can start online and send photos of the affected skin, or come into the pharmacy. A pharmacist checks that the rash is eczema or dermatitis, that it is not infected, and which strength of steroid cream or ointment, if any, is right for the area. Consultations are available in English or Chinese (中文).
Eczema and dermatitis treatment at a glance
| Treatment options | Short courses of topical steroid creams or ointments in three strengths: hydrocortisone 1% (mild), clobetasone 0.05% (moderate) and betamethasone valerate 0.1% (potent), plus advice on emollients and triggers |
|---|---|
| Price | From £5.10, depending on the treatment. The full price list is below |
| Who it is for | Adults with mild to moderate eczema or dermatitis, and people aged 12 and over with a flare that needs a stronger steroid |
| How it works | Online, with clear photos of the affected skin, or in person at the pharmacy. No separate consultation fee |
| Pharmacist assessment | Required every time. If treatment is not suitable, for example because the skin looks infected, the pharmacist will not supply it and will tell you where to go instead |
| Where and when | 77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET · Monday to Friday, 9:00am–6:00pm |
| Language | English and Chinese (中英文服务) |
Start your free online assessment or call 020 8106 7084. Prices and treatment options are listed below.
Treatment options and prices
The pharmacist chooses the mildest strength likely to control your skin, based on how inflamed it is and where it is on your body. Each course is short, usually up to 7 days, and you keep using your emollient (moisturiser) alongside it.
| Option | What it is | Price | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrocortisone 1% cream | Hydrocortisone（氢化可的松）1%, a mild steroid for mild to moderate eczema or contact dermatitis in adults. Applied thinly once or twice a day for up to 7 days | From £5.10 (15g) | Hydrocortisone 1% cream |
| Clobetasone 0.05% cream | Clobetasone Butyrate（丁酸氯倍他松）0.05%, a moderately potent steroid for a flare that a mild steroid has not controlled. Applied thinly once or twice a day for up to 7 days | £14.99 (15g pharmacy pack, age 12+) £16.99 (30g prescription pack) |
Eumovate Eczema & Dermatitis 15g Clobetasone 0.05% 30g |
| Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream or ointment | Betamethasone Valerate（戊酸倍他米松）0.1%, a potent steroid for a more significant flare on skin that can take a stronger treatment. Applied thinly once or twice a day for up to 7 days | £14.99 (30g) | Betamethasone 0.1% cream / ointment |
You only pay once the pharmacist confirms a treatment is suitable. If you have already paid and the medicine turns out not to be suitable, the pharmacist may suggest another option or give you a full refund. There is no separate consultation fee: the price shown is the price of the medicine.
Creams suit moist or less dry skin; ointments suit dry, scaly or thickened skin. The pharmacist will recommend which is better for you. Only enough for one short course is supplied at a time, and a repeat supply needs a new assessment.
Who can use this service
- Adults aged 18 and over with mild to moderate atopic eczema, irritant contact dermatitis (for example from soap, detergents or frequent hand washing) or allergic contact dermatitis (for example from fragrance, metals or hair dye), where a mild steroid is appropriate
- People aged 12 and over with a flare of known eczema or dermatitis that needs a moderately potent or potent steroid. Young people can use the online service, but a parent or guardian must be present on the video call with the pharmacist
- People whose rash is limited to a manageable area and does not look infected
- People who can send clear photos of the affected skin for an online consultation, or who can come into the pharmacy
Tell the pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if the rash is on your face, eyelids, groin or skin folds, or if you have used steroid creams often in the past. Thin skin absorbs steroids more easily, so stronger creams are not usually used on these areas.
When you should see a GP or get urgent help instead
See your GP if:
- your eczema is severe or covers a large part of your body
- you need steroid creams again and again, or your skin has not improved after a 7-day course
- the rash is around your eyes, or on your genitals or bottom
- the rash might be something else, such as psoriasis, a fungal infection, rosacea, acne or scabies
- you think you are reacting to something at work, or the cause keeps coming back and you may need patch testing
- the skin looks infected: increasing pain, warmth, pus, yellow or honey-coloured crusts, or a lot of weeping (crusted sores may be impetigo)
Get urgent medical help the same day (NHS 111, or your GP urgently) if eczema suddenly becomes painful with clusters of small blisters or punched-out sores, especially if you feel unwell or have a fever. This can be eczema herpeticum, which needs urgent treatment. Call 999 or go to A&E if you have swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, or widespread blistering or peeling skin.
How it works
- Start your free online assessment. Answer the health questions online and confirm your identity (upload photo ID, or show it on a video call). In the questionnaire you also upload clear photos of the affected skin.
- The pharmacist reviews your answers and speaks with you by phone or video to confirm whether treatment is suitable.
- If suitable, choose and pay. The pharmacist confirms which treatment is suitable; you then order and pay online (for example betamethasone valerate 0.1%), or call 020 8106 7084. If it is not suitable, you pay nothing (or get a full refund if you have already paid) — the pharmacist explains your other options.
- We post your medicine or you collect it. Orders approved by the pharmacist before 3:00pm on a working day are dispatched the same day; see our shipping information for delivery options and costs. You can also collect from the pharmacy once your order is approved.
If the photos do not show the skin clearly enough, the pharmacist may ask you to come into the pharmacy instead.
Why choose Ways Pharmacy
- Clear prices for each strength, shown up front; free online assessment — you only pay once the pharmacist confirms treatment is suitable
- The pharmacist starts with the mildest strength that is likely to work, and explains how much to apply
- Advice on emollients, soap substitutes and avoiding triggers, not just a steroid cream
- Consultation and explanation in Chinese (中文) or English
- GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises 9012227) in Holborn, about two minutes' walk from the British Museum
Related services: impetigo treatment, scabies treatment and acne treatment.
Frequently asked questions
How much does eczema treatment cost at Ways Pharmacy?
From £5.10 for hydrocortisone 1% cream, £14.99 for clobetasone 0.05% cream (15g) and £14.99 for betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream or ointment (30g). The online assessment is free, and you only pay for a treatment once the pharmacist confirms it is suitable. If you have already paid and it turns out not to be suitable, your payment is refunded in full.
How do I use a steroid cream safely?
Apply a thin layer only to the inflamed skin, once or twice a day as directed, for no longer than the pharmacist advises (usually up to 7 days). The fingertip unit is a useful guide: a line of cream squeezed from the tip of an adult index finger to the first crease covers an area about the size of two adult palms. Wash your hands afterwards unless you are treating your hands.
Should I keep using my moisturiser?
Yes. Keep using an emollient every day, even when your skin looks better. Do not mix it with the steroid cream; leave a gap between applying the two where you can.
What are the side effects of steroid creams?
Short courses used as directed rarely cause problems. Mild stinging or irritation can happen. Using strong steroids for a long time, over large areas or on thin skin can cause skin thinning, stretch marks or visible small blood vessels, which is why courses are kept short and reviewed. Tell a healthcare professional if you notice blurred vision.
Can I use a steroid cream on my face?
Only if the pharmacist advises it. Facial skin is thin and more easily affected by steroids, and stronger creams are not usually used on the face. Treatment around the eyes needs a GP.
My eczema keeps coming back. What should I do?
Frequent flares, or needing steroid creams again and again, are a reason to see your GP. You may need a different long-term plan or tests to find a trigger.
Can children use this service?
Our pharmacists can treat flares in young people aged 12 and over. Children under 12 should be seen by their GP.
Is this an NHS service?
No. Ways Pharmacy Holborn is a private pharmacy and does not provide NHS services.
Suspected side effects can be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.
This page gives factual information about pharmacy services and medicines. Any medicine is supplied only after a pharmacist has assessed that it is suitable for you.
Ways Pharmacy
77 Southampton Row, Holborn, London WC1B 4ET
Telephone: 020 8106 7084
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am–6:00pm, closed Saturday and Sunday
Around 2 minutes' walk from the British Museum, near Holborn station
GPhC-registered pharmacy premises: 9012227 · About Ways Pharmacy
