Afloderm is a glucocorticosteroid intended exclusively for topical use. It is produced in two forms: cream and ointment. When using this medicine, people are often worried about the question: is Afloderm (cream) hormonal or not? Yes, this remedy is hormonal and can be addictive, therefore it should be used carefully and only as prescribed by the doctor. The course of treatment should not be long, and with prolonged therapy, it is best to alternate this cream with other drugs of a similar effect.
Release form, composition
The composition of one gram of ointment contains about 0.5 mg of the active component of alklomethasone dipropionate. Additional components here are: hexylene glycol, white petrolatum, propylene glycol monostearate, white wax.
Afloderm cream contains in one gram 0.5 mg of the active substance alklomethasone dipropionate. Minor substances are: propylene glycol, sodium phosphate monobasic dihydrate, chlorocresol, phosphoric acid, macrogol cetostearyl ether 22, cetostearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate polyethylene glycol 100 stearate, sodium hydroxide, white petrolatum and purified water.
And that, and another form of the drug is used only for external use. The cream has a white uniform consistency, and the ointment is presented in the form of a dense, homogeneous substance of a light yellow hue that does not contain mechanical inclusions.
Cream and ointment are produced in aluminum tubes of 20 and 40 grams, which, in turn, are packed in a cardboard box, where in addition to the medicine there is an instruction for use.
The drug should be stored in a cool place inaccessible to children at a temperature of not more than + 30 ° C. The product should not be exposed to direct sunlight. The cream has a shelf life of two years, and the ointment is three years.
The medicine is dispensed from pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription.
Pharmacological action of the drug
Afloderm Cream is a glucocorticosteroid of non-fluorinated and synthetic origin. Used locally. It has anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, anti-allergic and anti-proliferative properties.
When applied to the epidermis, it acts in the focus of the inflammatory process efficiently and quickly. Reduces severe symptoms: erythema, edema, lichenification, and also eliminates subjective sensations, such as itching, peeling, irritation of the skin and pain.
Indications for use of the drug
Afloderm cream is prescribed for dermatoses that can be treated with glucocorticosteroids. That is, it is used to treat atopic, allergic, solar and contact dermatitis. A direct indication for use is psoriasis, eczema and allergic reactions to insect bites. The drug can be used in children from the age of six months. The drug can be applied to the skin of the face and in the anogenital zone.
Contraindications
Afloderm cream should not be applied if derma tuberculosis is present, skin syphilis manifestations and viral infectious skin diseases are prohibited. Contraindicated in case of chickenpox, skin post-vaccination reactions. I do not recommend using the drug on open wounds, with rosacea and the diagnosis of trophic ulcers. The cream is not prescribed for acne vulgaris and hypersensitivity to alklomethasone, as well as to other excipients of the drug.
During pregnancy, Afloderm can be used when the benefits for the expectant mother are several times higher than the risk for the development of the embryo. In this situation, cream treatment should be short-lived, and it can be applied only to small areas of the skin.
There are no studies on the teratogenic effects of the drug.
The medicine can be applied to the skin during the period of breastfeeding, but subject to certain rules. So, you can not apply the product to the epidermis of the mammary glands immediately before feeding.
Afloderm (cream): instructions for use
The cream is recommended for use in the treatment of acute and weeping lesions of the epidermis. It is mainly used on areas of the body with great sensitivity. This is the face, chest, genital area, neck.
The ointment is denser in consistency. It is used on rougher and denser skin. For example, on the feet and elbows. More suitable for the treatment of subacute and chronic dermatoses. This also includes dry, scaly or lichenized lesions. That is, they are used when the occlusal effect of Afloderm ointment is needed.
What is the best cream or ointment? The answer to this question is simple - each of these drugs has its own purpose.
"Afloderm" (cream) instructions recommend applying evenly with a thin layer to problem areas of the skin 2-3 times a day. In areas with a denser epidermis, that is, on the feet, elbows and palms, as well as in the area where the drug is quickly erased, the drug is applied more often.
For children and adults, during the period of extinction of the appeared symptoms, the medicine is applied to the skin once a day.
To prevent relapse of chronic skin diseases, after the disappearance of the main symptoms, treatment is extended for a few more days.
Data on an overdose of ointment or cream Afloderm were not presented.
Side effects with local use of alklomethasone are quite rare, and if they occur, they are reversible. In 1-2% of patients, itching, redness of the skin, burning, excessive dryness of the skin were noted. These people were worried about irritation, a rash of a papular nature. Acne-like changes on the dermis were very rare, hypopigmentation and sweating were observed. Rarely enough, folliculitis, atrophy of the epidermis, striae, dermatitis of allergic and contact origin, hypertrichosis, and secondary infectious skin diseases bothered me.
Special instructions for use
If at the beginning of the use of the Afloderm preparation (ointment, cream) hypersensitivity in the form of itching, hyperemia or burning is observed, the use of the drug should be discontinued.
The drug is not applied to the skin in the eye area, as this can trigger the development of glaucoma or cataracts. Do not apply cream and ointment to open wounds on the skin and to inflamed acne vulgaris.
If skin disease has complications in the form of a bacterial or fungal infection, which manifests itself a second time, then antibacterial or antimycotic drugs should be added to the Afloderm treatment.
The medicine can be applied to the skin of children from an early age. It should be noted that in infants the folds on the dermis and the diaper have an effect similar to an occlusive dressing, and can increase the systemic absorption of the active component. In addition, in children there is a likelihood of an increase in systemic absorption due to the proportional relationship between the skin of the child and the weight of the child, as well as due to the immaturity of the skin. Therefore, the use of the drug in young children is permissible, but only under the supervision of a specialist.
Afloderm (cream): analogues
If this medicine did not fit in its effect, price, or for some other reason, then it is replaced with drugs that are similar in their properties. It can be Fuzimet ointment, Resuscitation cryogel, Mikospor preparation, Fluorocort ointment.
Many of them are cheaper than Afloderm cream, but despite this, they have a similar effect on the skin.
The cost of cream Afloderm
Afloderm cream and ointment are sold only in pharmacies. A cream in a 40 gram tube costs about 450 rubles, and the price of 20 grams of the drug is 350 rubles. Prices for ointment are exactly the same as for cream.
Reviews of doctors and patients
"Afloderm" (cream) reviews of doctors refer to effective hormonal drugs. It is recommended to use the medicine for children from the age of six. They say that the drug helps to cure dermatitis, gives a good result in eczema and quickly removes redness with insect bites. It does not cause negative reactions. So that the drug is not addictive, do not use it for a long time.
Among patients, reviews are very different. One drug helped. They noted the effectiveness and speed of the cream. We felt the effect of the drug from the first days of use. Parents were also satisfied with the result. It is said that in two applications, the cream removed the marks from mosquito bites, dermatitis and other skin rashes. The medicine has a good effect on the skin with eczema, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis. Some people note that after drug withdrawal, the condition with eczema may return to its original state, therefore they use Afloderm in combination with other drugs.
There are those to whom the drug did not help, but there are few such people. As a rule, they used the product on coarse and thick areas of the skin to eliminate the inflammatory process. Some people do not like the fact that the drug is hormonal and addictive, so they try to use it only as needed. It is believed that the price of the product is too high.
Side effects during the use of Afloderm were not found in any of the patients. In general, patients are satisfied with the drug. It is well tolerated by both children and adults. It acts quickly and efficiently.