The ban applies to skin creams that contain steroids or other prescription drugs and not for ordinary face-cleansing and moisturisers
The Union Health Ministry has banned over-the-counter sale of around 14 creams containing steroids and antibiotics without prescription.
A March 23 notification put 14 steroid-based creams and ointments under the Schedule H category by making amendments to certain Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
The decision was made following consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board which recommended a ban on the sale of such creams without prescription and had also submitted their recommendations to the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation.
The move comes in the wake of dermatologists’ complaints that pharmaceutical companies were selling steroid-based creams and ointments without medical guidance.
The revised rules will apply to skin creams that contain steroids or other prescription drugs and not for ordinary face-cleansing and moisturisers.
The creams that have been banned are alclometasone, beclomethasone, desonide, desoximetasone and flucinonide, among others.
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