1% hydrocortisone ointment is a hormonal remedy for topical use. It has immunosuppressive, anti-allergic, anti-exudative, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties. Thanks to it, the exudative and proliferative process in the focus of inflammation is inhibited.
Composition
This ointment contains 10 milligrams of hydrocortisone acetate per gram. Auxiliary substances are medical vaseline, anhydrous lanolin, pentol, stearic acid, nipazole and purified water.
Consider the pharmacological action of 1% hydrocortisone ointment.
Pharmacological properties
Hydrocortisone is a glucocorticosteroid synthetic drug intended for external use. It can have anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, and at the same time antipruritic effects. Thanks to him slows downrelease of cytokines (interferon) from macrophages and lymphocytes. The release of inflammatory mediators is inhibited, the metabolism of arachidonic acids and the synthesis of prostaglandins are disrupted.
1% hydrocortisone ointment, among other things, stimulates glucosteroid receptors, induces the formation of lipocortin. It significantly reduces cellular inflammatory infiltrates by reducing the migration of leukocytes and lymphocytes to the site of inflammation. When administered at the recommended dose, it does not provoke systemic adverse reactions in patients.
Indications
When is 1% hydrocortisone ointment indicated? The tool is used for inflammatory processes and allergic reactions from the skin, characterized by non-microbial etiology:
- If you have eczema.
- On the background of allergic and contact dermatitis.
- In case of neurodermatitis.
- For psoriasis.
The doctor should prescribe the remedy.
Contraindications
According to the instructions, 1% hydrocortisone ointment should not be used in the following cases:
- In case of hypersensitivity to the main component (hydrocortisone) or other ingredients of the drug.
- When wound, ulcerative lesions.
- Against the background of a bacterial, viral and fungal skin disease.
- In case of tuberculosis of the skin.
- With syphilitic tissue damage.
- On the background of rosacea, acne vulgaris and perioral dermatitis.
- In the presence of a tumor of the skin.
- In childhood up to two years.
Use this ointment with caution in diabetes.
How to use the product correctly?
1% hydrocortisone ointment is used topically in dermatology. For adults, it is applied in a thin layer three times a day to the affected areas of the skin. The standard course is a period of six to fourteen days. An occlusive dressing may be used to enhance effectiveness in a limited area.
In the framework of any treatment, the duration of the course directly depends on the general nature of the disease, and at the same time on the effectiveness of therapy. It is worth noting that with the persistent course of the disease, therapy can be extended up to twenty days.
When using the ointment for children from two years of age and older, it is necessary to limit the total duration of therapy, excluding activities that lead to an increase in the resorption process of steroid absorption (fixing and warming dressings). Against the background of long-term treatment, it is imperative to monitor weight, height and plasma cortisol levels.
It is required, among other things, to avoid contact with the drug in question in the eyes. In the event that after one week of use there is no improvement, and the patient's condition worsens, as well as when symptoms recur, the use of this drug should be discontinued, and then consult a doctor aboutsubsequent recovery tactics.
Side effects
As indicated by the instructions for use, 1% hydrocortisone ointment can provoke manifestations of individual intolerance in the form of hyperemia, swelling and itching in the areas of application. With prolonged treatment, the development of a secondary infectious lesion of the skin, atrophic changes in it, and in addition, hypertrichosis is also likely.
In order to prevent infectious lesions of the cover, this drug is recommended to be prescribed in combination with antifungal and antibacterial agents. With prolonged treatment with ointment or the use of occlusive dressings, especially on large areas, patients may experience hypercortisolism, which is a manifestation of the resorptive effect of hydrocortisone acetate.
When the site of application is large enough, a person may experience side effects that are of a general nature. For example, we are talking about migraine-like pains, sleep disturbance, mental excitability, pigmentation of the skin, lack of potassium in the body, failure in the menstrual cycle, increased intracranial pressure, and so on.
For kids
What else does the instruction for hydrocortisone ointment tell us? For children over the age of one year, the agent is applied in a thin layer to the affected area of the skin twice a day. The duration of treatment should not exceed five days. The use of a bandage for the treatment of small patients is strictly contraindicated. When using thisointments for the treatment of this category of patients limit the total duration of the course, excluding activities that lead to increased absorption of the drug.
When using 1% hydrocortisone ointment in children for a long time, it is necessary to monitor body weight, and in addition, growth and plasma cortisol volume. For babies under the age of twelve, such a medicine is prescribed only under medical supervision.
Hydrocortisone in the treatment of dermatitis in children
Scientists have come to the conclusion that this ointment is the best medicine for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in children. During the experiments, the specialists had questions about which of the dosage forms of the drug in question is more effective.
For this, an experiment was conducted in which one hundred and fifty children with atopic dermatitis participated. Earlier it was said that hydrocortisone in the form of an ointment has a stronger effect compared to the same drug in liquid form. To confirm or refute this statement, half of the participants' torsos were treated with a 1% ointment of the drug, and the other part with a suspension. In the process of treatment, it turned out that the effect of both ointment and emulsion is equally effective. True, the children liked the suspension treatment more. For the treatment of atopic dermatitis in babies, British doctors advise one treatment per day.
Thus, doctors recommend the use of hydrocortisone ointment to combat atopic dermatitis in children, but before treatmentbe sure to consult a specialist.
1% Hydrocortisone Physiotherapy Ointment
In the process of physiotherapy treatment, hydrocortisone ointment is widely used for ultrasound and electrophoresis. For example, the latter procedure is relevant for the treatment of joints. Under the influence of electric direct current, medicinal components penetrate the skin and mucous membranes to the affected foci.
There is no negative effect of the drug on the kidneys and digestive system. It is worth noting that with the help of electrophoresis, antibiotics can be delivered to diseased joints along with anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as novocaine and other painkillers.
The ultrasound procedure with hydrocortisone differs from electrophoresis primarily in that the medicine is delivered to the diseased joint not by means of an electric current, but by means of a vibration effect, which is created by a special apparatus that acts directly on the area above the affected area.
For articular use
This medicine is a direct analogue of Cortisone, but the difference is that it includes hydroxyl and hydrogen, while the substitute drug contains a carbon atom and oxygen. But in terms of therapeutic effectiveness, this medication is almost identical to its counterpart, however, it has a stronger effect. In this regard, its dosage should be one thirdless.
For injections into or near the joint, a microcrystalline suspension of the drug is used. But local treatment with an ointment will also be effective. Similar procedures are performed for arthritis of any etiology (in addition to purulent, tuberculous and gonorrheal), tendovaginitis, bursitis and other similar diseases. The therapeutic result can occur within six hours after the procedure. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor. It is important to strictly follow the instructions for use of hydrocortisone ointment.
Reviews
This ointment is today a very popular remedy. In reviews, people praise it for its benefits in the treatment of eczema, allergic and contact dermatitis, as well as neurodermatitis and psoriasis.
The distrust of consumers is caused only by the fact that this drug is a hormonal drug. True, there are no reports of any serious side effects during Hydrocortisone therapy in the reviews. The only thing worth saying is that there are comments on the Internet about the occurrence of redness and itching due to long-term treatment with the drug in question. In this regard, it must be recalled that the duration of treatment should not exceed the course indicated by the doctor.
Specialists, in turn, emphasize that in order to prevent the occurrence of an infectious skin lesion, this medication is best used in combination with antifungal and antibacterial agents.
