Fingertip units.

Worked example

Face and neck (2.5 FTU) plus both arms (2 x 3 = 6 FTU) is 8.5 FTU, which is 8.5 x 0.5 g = 4.25 g per application. Twice a day for 7 days is 59.5 g, so a 30 g tube is not enough; you need 2 tubes.

How it works

Grams = fingertip units x 0.5 g. Adult units per area: face and neck 2.5, front of trunk 7, back of trunk and buttocks 7, one arm 3, one hand (both sides, with fingers) 1, one leg 6, one foot 2. The unit comes from Long and Finlay's 1991 measurement of the line of cream from a standard 5 mm nozzle along the distal phalanx of the adult index finger.

What this is not. The method was designed for topical corticosteroids so that patients use a consistent amount. Strength, how often to apply, which areas are safe for a given product and how long to use it are set by your prescriber or the label, not by this page. Values are for adults; children's units are smaller and depend on age. A fingertip is smaller on many women and teenagers, so some people use a little less than the average.

Sources and basis: Long CC, Finlay AY, The finger-tip unit - a new practical measure, Clin Exp Dermatol 1991;16(6):444-447 (1 FTU about 0.5 g); adult units per area as given in British Association of Dermatologists and NHS eczema patient guidance.

FAQ

How much is one fingertip unit?

About 0.5 g of cream or ointment, the amount squeezed from a standard nozzle along the index finger from the tip to the first skin crease. It covers an area about the size of two adult hands with fingers together.

How many fingertip units for the face?

2.5 fingertip units for the face and neck of an adult, about 1.25 g.

Does it work for moisturiser too?

Yes as a measuring guide, but emollients are normally used more generously. Follow the amount your doctor or pharmacist suggests.

Does the fingertip unit apply to children?

Not directly. Children need fewer units by age and body size. Use the dosing given by your child’s doctor or pharmacist.

How do I measure it without a nozzle?

Squeeze a line from the tip of your index finger to the first crease. A tube with a larger nozzle gives a larger unit, so lay out the amount for a standard small nozzle if you can.