From the Research
One fingertip unit (FTU) is equal to approximately 0.5 grams of topical medication. This standardized measurement represents the amount of ointment or cream that can be squeezed from a tube with a standard 5mm diameter nozzle onto the index finger from the tip to the first finger crease. The FTU concept was developed to help patients apply the correct amount of topical medications, particularly corticosteroids, to different body areas.
Key Points
- The FTU concept is practical because it allows for consistent dosing without requiring patients to have access to a scale.
- For reference, one FTU is typically enough to cover an area of skin about twice the size of an adult's palm or roughly 2% of the total body surface area.
- Healthcare providers often use FTUs when prescribing topical treatments to ensure patients apply appropriate amounts, as both under-application and over-application can affect treatment efficacy and safety.
- According to the most recent study 1, awareness regarding FTU is high among both dermatologists and pharmacists, however practical use is less.
- The study 2 found that one FTU weighed 0.45 g in males and 0.38 g in females, but this study is older and less relevant than the more recent studies.
- The study 3 also mentions that one fingertip unit is the amount of medication dispensed from the tip of the index finger to the crease of the distal interphalangeal joint and covers approximately 2% body surface area on an adult, but does not provide a specific weight equivalent.
- The weight equivalent of 1 FTU is not consistently reported across studies, but 0.5 grams is a commonly cited estimate 4, 5.