What do the Clean, Low, Watch and Swap levels mean?

They are cut from a continuous concern level the app computes from the sourced claims that the chosen evidence lens shows: each claim counts its concern class, tier weight, confidence and dose relevance, combined worst-first with a decay so one serious finding outweighs many small ones, then scaled by how much of the substance reaches you in this use. Clean is below 0.35, Low below 1.1, Watch below 2.0 and Swap above that, on a 0 to 3 scale.

Is Hydrocortisone safe on skin (left on)?

Q: Is hydrocortisone safe on skin (left on)?

Under the app's default Cautious lens, hydrocortisone on skin (left on) rates Swap: the app would put this near the top of your swap plan. 3 sourced concerns count (restricted, consensus tier; endocrine, consensus tier; irritant · allergen, consensus tier). This is research with sources, not medical advice.

Medicines & supplements1 use researched3 sourced claims

Where it turns up: common anti-itch, anti-inflammatory cream. Detox My Life researched hydrocortisone under one use, because the same substance means something different in each use. Every claim below carries its evidence tier, how sure the research is that it applies here, and the sources it cites. The level is computed by the app's own deterministic engine, so the page says exactly what the app would.

Level by use and lens

Use	Mainstream	Cautious (default)	Based	Concerns · favour · fringe
On skin, left on	Swap	Swap	Swap	3 · 0

Mainstream shows consensus claims only; Cautious adds emerging research; Based adds fringe claims, labelled as such. The last column counts, under Cautious, the sourced concerns, the findings in its favour and the fringe claims Based would add.

Safer swaps: the app's swap catalog has no entry tied to this ingredient yet. When you scan a product that contains it, the app suggests cleaner alternative types for that product; the swap categories list what the catalog covers today.

On skin, left on Swap

Under the default Cautious lens hydrocortisone on skin (left on) rates Swap: the app would put this near the top of your swap plan. Mainstream (consensus only) rates it Swap; Based (adds the fringe) rates it Swap. Researched 2026-09-03.

Sourced concerns (3)

ConsensusRestrictedconfidence 100%

Hydrocortisone for dermal leave-on use is subject to restrictions regarding duration of use (e.g., typically not more than 7 days for OTC products without medical advice), application areas (e.g., generally not on the face, genitals, or under occlusive dressings unless directed by a physician), and age (e.g., not for children under 2 years without medical supervision), due to the risk of local and systemic side effects.

Why here: These restrictions are in place to minimize the potential for adverse effects from both local skin damage and systemic absorption.
What would have to be true: Use outside of recommended guidelines (e.g., prolonged duration, large areas, sensitive areas, inappropriate age group, or under occlusion).

Sources the engine cites (no regulator, review or study among them):

1 web article (U.S. Pharmacist), linked in the app.

ConsensusEndocrineconfidence 100%

Prolonged or extensive dermal application of hydrocortisone can lead to systemic absorption, causing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression, manifestations of Cushing's syndrome, and hyperglycemia.

Why here: Hydrocortisone, a corticosteroid, can be absorbed through the skin, especially with long-term use, application over large body surface areas, under occlusive dressings, or on damaged skin, leading to systemic effects.
What would have to be true: Long-term use (e.g., more than 7 days for over-the-counter products, or prolonged prescription use), application over large body surface areas, use under occlusive dressings, or on compromised skin barriers. Children are at higher risk due to a greater skin surface area to body weight ratio.

Sources the engine cites:

HYDROCORTISONE CREAM USP, 2.5% HYDROCORTISONE OINTMENT USP, 2.5% — DailyMed (2025) · regulator or public body
Topical Corticosteroids - StatPearls — NCBI Bookshelf - NIH (2025) · regulator or public body
Adrenal Insufficiency as a Result of Long-Term Misuse of Topical Corticosteroids — PMC - NIH (2014) · regulator or public body
Consequences of systemic absorption of topical glucocorticoids — PMC - NIH (2011) · regulator or public body
3 community or commercial pages, not counted here.

ConsensusIrritant · allergenconfidence 100%

Dermal application of hydrocortisone, especially with prolonged use, can cause local skin reactions such as thinning (atrophy), stretch marks (striae), easy bruising, changes in pigmentation (lightening or darkening), burning, itching, redness, dryness, folliculitis, and perioral dermatitis.

Why here: Direct contact of the corticosteroid with skin cells can alter their structure and function, leading to various adverse dermatological effects.
What would have to be true: Topical application, particularly prolonged use, high potency, or on sensitive skin areas (e.g., face, eyelids, genitals).

Sources the engine cites:

Topical Corticosteroids - StatPearls — NCBI Bookshelf - NIH (2025) · regulator or public body
Hydrocortisone (topical application route) - Side effects & dosage — Mayo Clinic (2026) · review
Dermatitis. Corticosteroids — DermNet (2016) · review

Not researched here

The engine has no dossier for hydrocortisone when cooked with heat, in cold food, as a finishing ingredient, in heated food packaging or other uses. The app researches an ingredient for the use it infers from your product, so a scan fills these in; this page only shows what has already been researched and source-verified.

This is research, not medical advice. Detox My Life shows sourced claims sorted by evidence tier. It does not diagnose, treat, or tell you to start or stop anything. Talk to a qualified professional about your health.

Scan your own. The app reads any product label with your camera, works out how you are about to use it, and researches every ingredient for that use with live sources. Every scan adds to a Detox Score for your home, where 50 is a typical home in your region, and a plan of next swaps.

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