FDA-filed SPL labeling · retrieved through openFDA

Diflorasone Topical

Diflorasone topical is a high-potency corticosteroid (steroid) cream, ointment, or gel applied to the skin to relieve inflammation and itching caused by corticosteroid-responsive skin conditions.

Brand names FloronepsorconApexiconDiflorasone DiacetateApexiCon E +1 more
Drug class Corticosteroid Hormone Receptor Agonists
Rx Form 1 Route Topical
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 4 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

At a glance
Linked label effectiveJul 2, 2025
Clinical labels in scope 4
AvailabilityRx
Earliest approval/marketing year 1977
FDA-listed product records 15
Boxed warningNone found in compared labels
How we combine label and product data →
No current FDA shortage listed · checked Sep 20, 2026
Diflorasone Topical at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
💊
HelloPharmacist Editorial Team Bottom Line
Diflorasone topical is a high-potency prescription steroid applied to the skin to treat inflammatory and itchy skin conditions. Use a thin layer exactly as directed — using too much or covering with wraps without guidance can allow the medication to be absorbed into the body and cause wider effects. If you notice a skin infection or unusual skin changes, contact your doctor right away.

📖 Diflorasone Topical: Patient Information Guide

A plain-language walkthrough of Diflorasone Topical — what it treats, how it works, how it’s taken, side effects, warnings and interactions. Tap any section to expand it.

🎯What it's used for

Diflorasone topical is a high-potency corticosteroid used to treat inflammatory and itchy skin conditions that respond to steroid treatment.

  • Psorcon (diflorasone diacetate cream, 0.05%) is indicated for the relief of inflammation and itching from corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses (skin conditions that improve with steroid treatment)
  • Diflorasone diacetate ointment is used for similar inflammatory skin conditions, including resistant cases such as psoriasis
⚙️How it works

Diflorasone is a topical corticosteroid that works on the skin to reduce inflammation, relieve itching, and narrow small blood vessels (a property called vasoconstriction). The precise cellular mechanism behind its anti-inflammatory effect isn't fully known, but laboratory testing suggests that its ability to constrict blood vessels in the skin is closely tied to how effective it is clinically.

💊How it's taken

Diflorasone diacetate ointment is applied as a thin film directly to the affected skin, typically one to three times daily — the exact frequency depends on how severe or treatment-resistant the condition is. Your prescriber may recommend using an occlusive dressing (an airtight wrap placed over the treated area) to boost absorption for stubborn conditions like psoriasis.

  • Always follow the specific directions on your prescription label
  • Do not use occlusive dressings without your doctor's instruction
  • If a skin infection develops, stop any occlusive dressing and contact your doctor right away
🤒Side effects — in detail

Most side effects from diflorasone are local — meaning they happen at the site where you apply it. They tend to be more common when occlusive dressings are used.

  • Burning, stinging, or irritation
  • Itching
  • Skin dryness
  • Folliculitis (inflamed hair follicles)
  • Acne-like breakouts
  • Hypopigmentation (lightening or loss of skin color)
  • Perioral dermatitis (rash around the mouth)
  • Allergic contact dermatitis (allergic skin reaction)
  • Secondary skin infections
  • Skin atrophy (thinning of the skin) or striae (stretch marks)
  • Miliaria (heat rash)

Contact your doctor if you notice signs of a skin infection, significant skin thinning, stretch marks, or an allergic reaction — these need prompt attention.

⚠️Warnings & precautions
  • Systemic absorption: Diflorasone can be absorbed through the skin in amounts large enough to cause body-wide steroid effects, especially when applied to large areas, used under occlusive dressings, or when skin is broken or inflamed. Use only as directed to minimize this risk.
  • Occlusive dressings and infection: If a skin infection develops while using an occlusive dressing, stop the dressing immediately and seek appropriate treatment. Do not use occlusive dressings unless your doctor recommends them.
  • Hypersensitivity: Do not use Psorcon or any diflorasone product if you have a known allergy to any of its ingredients.
🔀What it interacts with

The FDA label for diflorasone topical does not describe specific drug, food, or supplement interactions.

    This is not a complete list of interactions. Always talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

    📋Before taking it
    • Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any corticosteroid or any ingredient in diflorasone products
    • Let your prescriber know if you develop a skin infection while on treatment — occlusive dressings must be stopped if this happens
    • Discuss use during pregnancy or breastfeeding with your doctor before starting
    • Children may absorb more of this medication through their skin; talk to your doctor about appropriate use in pediatric patients
    🚑If you take too much

    Applying too much diflorasone topical, or using it over a large skin area or under occlusive dressings for extended periods, can allow enough medication to be absorbed to cause systemic (body-wide) corticosteroid effects. If you're concerned about overuse or notice unexpected symptoms, contact your doctor or seek medical guidance promptly.

    📡Pharmacodynamics — effects in the body

    Diflorasone topical acts on the skin to produce three main effects: it reduces inflammation, relieves itching (antipruritic), and constricts small blood vessels (vasoconstriction). These effects work together to calm irritated, inflamed skin. Laboratory studies measuring its vasoconstricting ability are used to gauge how potent it is — and potency is closely linked to how well it works clinically.

    🔬Pharmacokinetics — how your body processes it

    How much diflorasone gets absorbed through the skin depends on several factors: the formulation used, the condition of the skin barrier, and whether an occlusive dressing is in place. Inflamed or broken skin absorbs more of the medication, and occlusive dressings can substantially increase absorption. Once it enters the bloodstream, diflorasone is processed similarly to other corticosteroids — it binds to proteins in the blood, is broken down (metabolized) mainly in the liver, and is cleared from the body through the kidneys, with some eliminated through bile.

    📦How to store it

    Store at 20 ° to 25 ° C (68 ° to 77 ° F) .

    📄 Written from Diflorasone Topical’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Every point is grounded in that labeling — nothing is invented. How we use AI →

    3

    Supplements & herbs that interact with Diflorasone Topical

    3 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Diflorasone Topical in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

    Severity mix
    • Moderate · 2
    • Minor · 1
    Every supplement checked against Diflorasone Topical — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 2 moderate · 1 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Diflorasone Topical against your exact supplements

    Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

    🩺 Pharmacist Counseling Corner

    Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Diflorasone Topical — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

    What skin conditions does diflorasone treat?
    Diflorasone is used to calm inflamed, itchy skin conditions that respond to corticosteroid (steroid) treatment — a category doctors sometimes call corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. This includes stubborn skin conditions like psoriasis. Your doctor will tell you whether your specific condition is appropriate for this medication.
    How do I apply it correctly?
    Apply a thin film of diflorasone diacetate ointment to the affected skin area, usually one to three times a day depending on how serious your condition is. 'Thin film' means just enough to lightly coat the area — you don't need to rub in a thick layer. Always follow the instructions your doctor gave you or what's printed on your prescription label.
    My doctor mentioned an occlusive dressing — what does that mean, and is it safe?
    An occlusive dressing is an airtight wrap or covering placed over the treated skin after applying the medication. It helps drive more of the ointment into the skin and can be useful for stubborn conditions like psoriasis. However, it also increases how much medication your body absorbs, so only use one if your doctor specifically tells you to. If you develop a skin infection while using one, remove the dressing right away and call your doctor.
    What side effects should I watch for?
    The most common side effects are local — burning, itching, irritation, or dryness at the spot where you apply it. With longer use or occlusive dressings, you might notice things like skin thinning, stretch marks, or a lightening of skin color. These are more likely with high-potency steroids like diflorasone. If you notice signs of a skin infection — increased redness, swelling, or oozing — or if side effects seem to be getting worse, contact your doctor.
    Is it safe to use over a large area of skin or for a long time?
    This is something to be careful about. Diflorasone is a high-potency steroid, and when used over large skin areas or for extended periods — especially under an occlusive dressing — enough can be absorbed into the bloodstream to cause body-wide steroid effects. That's why it's important to use only the amount your doctor prescribed, on only the areas they specified, and for no longer than directed.
    Can I use this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
    Talk to your doctor before using diflorasone if you're pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Your prescriber can weigh the potential benefits against any risks and guide you on the safest approach for your situation.
    Is Diflorasone Topical available over the counter?
    Diflorasone Topical is dispensed by prescription according to its FDA labeling, so it isn't sold over the counter. Your prescriber and pharmacist will determine if it's appropriate for you.
    When was Diflorasone Topical first available?
    Diflorasone Topical has been available in the United States since at least 1977, based on FDA approval history (Drugs@FDA) and product marketing records.
    Who makes Diflorasone Topical?
    Diflorasone Topical is supplied by 11 manufacturers listed in the FDA NDC Directory, including Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc., ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc..

    💬 Answers drafted from Diflorasone Topical’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Grounded in that labeling — nothing is made up. How we use AI →

    🧰 Keep exploring

    💊 How Diflorasone Topical comes

    Diflorasone Topical is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

    Topical cream, ointment or gel

    On the skin
    Brands ApexiCon E Diflorasone Diacetate Diflorasone Diacetate Oint Psorcon
    How this form is used
    What it may be used for
    • Psorcon (diflorasone diacetate cream) is indicated for the relief of inflammatory and itchy skin conditions that respond to corticosteroid treatment
    • Diflorasone diacetate ointment is used for inflammatory and itchy skin conditions, including resistant cases such as psoriasis
    Important instructions
    • Diflorasone diacetate ointment should be applied as a thin film to the affected area one to three times daily, depending on the severity of the condition
    • Your doctor may recommend using an occlusive dressing (an airtight wrap or bandage) over diflorasone diacetate ointment to help manage psoriasis or stubborn skin conditions
    • If a skin infection develops while using an occlusive dressing with diflorasone diacetate ointment, stop the dressing immediately and contact your doctor
    • Follow your prescriber's specific directions for whichever brand or formulation you have been prescribed
    Available strengths 2 strengths
    15 FDA-listed product records

    📊 Diflorasone Topical across the U.S. market

    How Diflorasone Topical appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

    1
    Dose forms
    11
    Manufacturers
    4
    Brand names
    15
    FDA-listed product records
    1977
    First marketed
    Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.20%
    Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.20%
    ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.7%
    E. Fougera & Co. a division of Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc.7%
    Emerald Therapeutics, LLC7%
    Innovida Pharmaceutique Corporation7%
    Other makers33%

    Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

    📈 How widely Diflorasone Topical is used

    A general measure of how commonly Diflorasone Topical is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

    Think of this as a proxy for how widely Diflorasone Topical is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

    8,568
    Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
    $3.2M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

    How commonly is Diflorasone Topical prescribed? Of the 1,596 medications we measure, Diflorasone Topical ranks #956 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 40% of them.

    Where Diflorasone Topical ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5

    Utilization by Diflorasone Topical product

    Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

    The 0.5 mg/mL topical cream is the most-dispensed Diflorasone Topical product — about 89% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

    diflorasone diacetate 0.5 MG/ML Topical Cream Most dispensed

    7,668 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 89% of Diflorasone Topical prescriptions shown $3.1M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $406 per prescription (gross)

    Summed across the 2 of 4 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 966577

    diflorasone diacetate 0.0005 MG/MG Topical Ointment

    900 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 11% of Diflorasone Topical prescriptions shown $109,057 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $121 per prescription (gross)

    Summed across the 3 of 12 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 966607

    Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

    Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Diflorasone Topical, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 5 of 16 listed Diflorasone Topical NDCs with Medicaid activity.

    🔍 Compare Diflorasone Topical products

    A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Diflorasone Topical — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

    Showing 15 of 15 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 15 Diflorasone Topical NDCs →

    RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

    This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

    Ingredient (IN) Diflorasone Topical RxCUI 91311 2 dose forms · 2 strengths
    1. Dose form (SCDF) Topical Cream RxCUI 378610 In current FDA listings
      Clinical drug / strength (SCD) diacetate 0.5 MG/ML RxCUI 966577
    2. Dose form (SCDF) Topical Ointment RxCUI 376493 In current FDA listings
      Clinical drug / strength (SCD) diacetate 0.0005 MG/MG RxCUI 966607

    Look up RxCUI 91311 in the RxCUI Atlas →

    RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

    🏷️ Sold under these brand names

    Florone psorcon Apexicon Diflorasone Diacetate ApexiCon E Diflorasone Diacetate Oint

    🏭 Manufacturers & labelers

    Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. 3 Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. 3 ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1 E. Fougera & Co. a division of Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc. 1 Emerald Therapeutics, LLC 1 Innovida Pharmaceutique Corporation 1 PharmaDerm a division of Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc. 1 Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc. 1 Rising Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1 Sola Pharmaceuticals 1 Teligent Pharma, Inc. 1

    RxNorm drug class

    Diflorasone Topical belongs to the Corticosteroid class.

    Pharmacologic class Corticosteroid
    Drug family (ATC) Corticosteroids, potent (group III)
    How it works Corticosteroid Hormone Receptor Agonists

    Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

    🔬 Where this comes from

    Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

    📄
    FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Jul 2, 2025
    🏭
    Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Diflorasone Topical.
    📈
    Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
    🚨
    Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
    🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Diflorasone Topical after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
    Clinical labels in scope
    4
    NDC products indexed
    15
    Distinct labelers/manufacturers represented
    11
    Linked representative label
    Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
    Linked label effective
    Jul 2, 2025
    Composite sections available
    15
    Linked SPL Set ID
    de40cc65-f955-423f-9cbd-bc2245c4f982
    Linked SPL Document ID
    38f8aa09-3cda-ae9a-e063-6294a90aa2f6
    Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

    How we combine label and product data

    HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records; we don’t author the underlying clinical facts. We identified 4 FDA-filed SPL label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. The representative label is the starting point for the displayed reference monograph; the 12 largest stored in-scope SPL records, which may include that representative, are compared section by section, and the longest available version of each section is retained. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, product-listed strengths, and product-record counts are aggregated separately from ingredient-matched FDA NDC Directory records; package records listed above are associated with the linked SPL; and the normalized concept hierarchy comes from NLM RxNorm.

    Where a section is identified as AI-written, its plain-language text is generated from bounded label evidence. New draft drug pages remain in the admin review queue before first publication. Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates; it is not the sole source used for the page.

    This is general education, not medical advice — always consult your doctor or pharmacist about your medications and any medical condition. For the exact wording of the linked representative label, view that label on DailyMed; some displayed composite sections may come from other in-scope SPL labels. Learn how we use AI and our data sources & update cadence.