Modern medicine widely uses various hormonal agents to treat many diseases. One of these drugs is Hydrocortisone ointment, which has long been successfully used in the treatment of skin diseases, as well as in the drug therapy of inflammatory ophthalmic diseases. This drug also finds a place in cosmetology. Our article will tell you in detail about the instructions for the Hydrocortisone ointment, its composition and reviews from both users and doctors. We will also offer a list of analogues of this medicine.
Indications for use
Hydrocortisone ointment is often recommended by doctors for use by their patients for the treatment of skin diseases caused primarily by chemical, physical exposure or allergies. This remedy has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect, in addition, "Hydrocortisone" is effectiverelieves itching.
The greatest healing effect from the use of the ointment is achieved with external therapy of acute dermatoses. Treatment of chronic skin diseases with Hydrocortisone ointment is also practiced, but not as quickly and successfully.
Immediately after application to the skin, the hormone, which is part of the ointment, easily penetrates the epidermis and inhibits the action of inflammatory mediators. Due to this, the painful symptoms of irritation on the skin begin to disappear quickly: the area of redness is reduced, soreness and swelling disappear.
The instructions for Hydrocortisone ointment say that it is intended for the treatment of the following diseases:
- dermatitis (especially in the acute stage);
- eczema;
- skin irritation caused by insect bites;
- psoriasis;
- seborrhea;
- neurodermatitis;
- erythroderma;
- pruritus.
Hydrocortisone eye ointment is prescribed for eye burns, as well as in the following cases:
- blepharitis;
- conjunctivitis;
- keratitis;
- uveitis;
- iridocyclitis;
- with inflammation of the organs of vision of the anterior section.
Composition of the drug
As can be seen from the previous information, the indications for the use of Hydrocortisone ointment are quite wide. The effectiveness of the drug is provided by the main active ingredient - hydrocortisone. It is a synthetic hormone from the group of glucocorticosteroids.
In addition to the main component, the ointment contains additional auxiliarysubstances: lanolin, stearic acid, pentol, petrolatum and methyl parahydroxybenzoate.
Ointment "Hydrocortisone": instructions for use
There is nothing complicated in the treatment with this external remedy. The ointment is simply applied in a thin layer on painful areas of the skin and rubbed until completely absorbed. After the application procedure, wash your hands thoroughly. Apply the drug to cleansed skin 1-3 times a day. The scheme of using the ointment should be recommended by the doctor. It will depend on how strongly the pathological process is expressed.
How to properly apply hydrocortisone eye ointment
We give a simple instruction for hydrocortisone eye ointment. When treating eye diseases, a small amount of the product is carefully placed under the lower eyelid (in the conjunctival sac), after which the eye must be closed.
Duration of treatment is no more than 2 weeks. But on the individual recommendation of a doctor, it can be extended. Throughout the course of treatment, it is necessary to monitor intraocular pressure.
Overdose
Overdose cases when using the drug for the treatment of skin diseases are rare. However, you should be aware that when using Hydrocortisone eye ointment for too long (more than 14 days), the following he alth deviations may occur:
- adrenal dysfunction;
- increase in blood glucose;
- allergic rasheson skin;
- women's menstrual imbalance;
- stunting (in children);
- visual impairment (if hydrocortisone eye ointment is used);
- increased skin tissue regeneration time;
- pressure increase;
- violation of metabolic processes;
- development of vasculitis.
Side effects
After regular use of Hydrocortisone ointment, a number of the following side effects may occur (in rare cases):
- Redness of the area of the skin on which the ointment was applied and the occurrence of an allergic reaction. This is usually due to an individual intolerance to or hypersensitivity to hydrocortisone.
- Unpleasant burning and itching of the skin at the site of application of the drug.
- Development of cataracts and glaucoma (when treated with eye hydrocortisone ointment).
Special Instructions
"Hydrocortisone" - an ointment that doctors do not recommend using for more than 3-5 days. Five days in a row is the maximum duration of using the drug. At the same time, it is recommended to refuse treatment with ointment smoothly and gradually. To do this, you can add a regular cream to the drug. The dose of cream should be increased daily, and the proportion of ointment, on the contrary, should be reduced. This will help reduce stress on the adrenal glands.
If the patient uses the ointment for 1-2 days and does not see any positive results in the treatment, then this is the reason for contacting the doctor for clarification of the diagnosis and the appointment of anothertherapy.
Use of Hydrocortisone eye ointment requires a temporary refusal (for the entire period of therapy) from wearing contact lenses.
The use of hydrocortisone ointment during pregnancy is only possible during periods of the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. In the first trimester, this is strictly prohibited, due to the possible negative effect of the hormonal drug on the formation of the embryo.
Contraindications for use
Above, indications for the use of Hydrocortisone ointment were given, now we have to get acquainted with a restrictive list of contraindications. Here it is:
- child under two years of age;
- open wound surfaces;
- rosacea or acne;
- diseases of the eyes or skin of fungal etiology;
- violation of the integrity of the cornea (in the treatment of eyes);
- if you have had any recent vaccinations;
- individual intolerance;
- inflammatory processes of the mucous membranes of the genital organs or oral cavity;
- neoplasms on the skin;
- skin tuberculosis;
- ulcerative erosions.
Reviews about the drug
Hydrocortisone ointment is a time-tested drug. Therefore, there are a lot of reviews about him and mostly they have a positive connotation. Most people who have tried the drug on themselves note that it is both effective and inexpensive.
Ointment "Hydrocortisone" for the eyes helps to quickly drive away barley from the eyelid, remove the manifestations of allergiesand conjunctivitis. Patients of ophthalmologists say that when they went to the clinic with complaints such as itching, redness of the eyeball, swelling, etc., the specialists often prescribed hydrocortisone ointment for treatment. And she helped literally within 2-4 days. Moreover, significant relief was manifested the very next day after using the drug.
Often in reviews, people who have been helped to get rid of skin diseases by the ointment express surprise that the price of Hydrocortisone ointment is so low. The cost of the drug is kept in the region of 25-135 rubles. In addition, this remedy is available without a prescription. People write that they previously used many liniments, including imported and very expensive ones. But only this domestically available drug helped to obtain a real therapeutic effect. Many people consider the presence of ointment in their home medicine cabinet mandatory and use it as a first aid. For example, in order to relieve itching after mosquito bites, etc.
There are even testimonials from those who regularly use the drug with hydrocortisone to treat their four-legged pets. After all, they also often have problems with the skin and eyes. So, it turns out that this ointment helps animals as well as people.
Use of ointment in cosmetology
Recently, women have often resorted to Hydrocortisone ointment to fight wrinkles. Instructions for use say nothing about the use of this liniment as a cosmetic product. However, there are many reviews that claim that hydrocortisone ointment has the following anti-aging properties:
- increases the elasticity of the epidermis;
- tightens sagging facial skin;
- smoothes not too deep wrinkles.
It would seem that everything is fine, and the price of Hydrocortisone ointment is low, but cosmetologists still do not recommend trying to restore youth with Hydrocortisone.
Hydrocortisone wrinkle remedy - expert reviews
Doctors urge women not to take risks and not to put dangerous experiments on themselves. Ointment "Hydrocortisone" is a hormonal drug that is forbidden to use for more than 5 days. Here are some factors that should not be ignored:
- Prolonged use of hormonal drugs can lead to the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
- With the frequent use of "Hydrocortisone" as a cosmetic product, the body quickly forms the habit of a constant supply of the hormone. This leads to the fact that each time an increasing concentration of ointment will be required to obtain the expected effect.
- Visible rejuvenation is an illusion that will soon have to say goodbye. Hydrocortisone gradually causes atrophic changes in the epidermis (this layer becomes thinner and loses moisture), disrupts the collagen structure, as a result of which more and more wrinkles will form, and the skin will begin to age faster.
- Accumulating in the skin corticosteroid can cause severe allergicreactions.
There are no valid indications for Hydrocortisone ointment to be used as a cosmetic product. Cosmetologists say that with the help of hydrocortisone ointment it is possible to get only a short-term aesthetic effect, and continued use of the product can only lead to disappointment and he alth problems.
Analogues
For the treatment to be effective, a qualified doctor should select a replacement for Hydrocortisone. At the same time, you need to understand that all analogues are also hormonal drugs, and they can have all the minuses and pluses of such drugs.
I must say that there is no one hundred percent similar substitute for the ointment discussed in our article. The drugs listed below are combination drugs. Along with hydrocortisone, they contain various additives, most often antibiotics. List of analogues of "Hydrocortisone":
- Locoid;
- Solu Cortef;
- Laticort;
- "Cortomycetin";
- Pimafukort;
- Primakort;
- Lokoid Krepo.
We also suggest that you familiarize yourself with the list of Hydrocortisone analogues, which include other corticosteroids:
- Sinaflan;
- Elokom;
- "Prednisolone";
- Fluorocort;
- "Advantan";
- Celestoderm.
Storage conditions
It is important to observe the conditions for proper storage of the product specified in the instructions. The drug remains effective for 3 years from the date of issue if stored at a temperature not exceeding 15 degrees and in a dark place. The top shelf of the refrigerator works best for this.
