Hydrocortisone 1%
Cortizone-10 and its twins. Anti-itch. Active ingredients: Hydrocortisone 1%. Also sold as Aveeno 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream.
21 options at Walmart, Costco, Amazon, Target, Kroger, Walgreens, CVS. Cheapest: $1.62 per oz; typical Cortizone-10: $6.50 per oz. Prices are estimates from Oct 2026.
Cheapest options
- Equate Maximum Strength Hydrocortisone 1% Cream — Walmart, 56 g, $3.24 ($1.62 per oz)
- Kirkland Signature Hydrocortisone 1% Plus Maximum Strength Cream, 4 × 2 oz — Costco, 224 g, $12.99 ($1.62 per oz)
- Equate Maximum Strength Hydrocortisone 1% Cream — Walmart, 28 g, $1.97 ($1.97 per oz)
- Amazon Basic Care Hydrocortisone 1% Cream — Amazon, 56 g, $3.99 ($2.00 per oz)
- up&up Maximum Strength Hydrocortisone 1% Anti-Itch Cream — Target, 56 g, $4.49 ($2.25 per oz)
- Amazon Basic Care Hydrocortisone 1% Cream — Amazon, 28 g, $2.79 ($2.79 per oz)
- up&up Maximum Strength Hydrocortisone 1% Anti-Itch Cream — Target, 28 g, $2.99 ($2.99 per oz)
- Kroger Maximum Strength Hydrocortisone 1% Cream — Kroger, 28 g, $2.99 ($2.99 per oz)
Where to find it
Look for the “First Aid” aisle sign.
Good to know
- 1% is the highest hydrocortisone strength sold without a prescription in the US, so every "Maximum Strength" 1% cream — brand or store brand — has the same amount of active ingredient.
- Hydrocortisone anti-itch creams are sold under the FDA's OTC monograph system rather than a brand-specific approval, so brand and store versions follow the same ingredient and strength rules.
- Cortizone-10's variants (Intensive Healing, Ultra Soothing, Cooling Relief gel, ointment) all list hydrocortisone 1%; they differ in moisturizers and base, not in the drug.
- A few store-brand anti-itch creams use hydrocortisone acetate 1% instead of hydrocortisone 1% — check the Drug Facts box if you want an exact match.