Finger tip units (in administration of topical steroids)

• one finger tip unit (FTU) is the amount of ointment expressed from a tube with a 5 mm diameter nozzle, applied from distal skin crease to the tip of the palmar aspect of the index finger in adults (1)
  • it is a validated method of applying the drug in suitable safe quantities (2)
  • the average weight of 1 FTU is approximately half a gram (2) (0.43 g in women and 0.49g in men)
    
    
• number of FTUs required to treat various anatomical regions (in adults):
  • scalp - 3 FTU
  • face and neck - 2.5 FTU
  • entire arm (including hand) - 4 FTU per arm
  • hand (front & back) inclding fingers - 1 FTU per hand
  • elbow (large plaque) - 1 FTU
  • entire leg (including entire foot) - 8 FTU per leg
  • foot (dorsum and soles) including toes - 2 FTU per foot
  • knee (large plaque) - 1 FTU
  • both soles - 1.5 FTU
  • buttocks - 4 FTU
  • trunk front - 8 FTU
  • trunk back - 8 FTU
  • genitalia - 0.5 FTU (3)
    
    
• FTUs required for different areas of a child's body are (1):

Reference:

• 1. MeReC. Using topical corticosteroids in general practice. MeReC Bulletin 1999;10(6), 21-24
• 2. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) 2007. Atopic eczema in childrenmanagement of atopic eczema in children from birth up to the age of 12
• 3. Menter A et al. Guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Section 3. Guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with topical therapies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009;60(4):643-59