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Finger tip units (in administration of topical steroids)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

  • 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):

Age

Entire face and neck

Entire arm and hand

Entire leg and foot

Entire front of chest and abdomen

Entire back including buttocks

3-6 months

1

1

1.5

1

1.5

1-2 years

1.5

1.5

2

2

3

2-5 years

1.5

2.0

3

3

3.5

6-10 years

2

2.5

4.5

3.5

5

Reference:

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