1% hydrocortisone ointment acts as a hormonal agent for local 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.
Structure
1 gram of this ointment contains hydrocortisone acetate in an amount of 10 milligrams. Excipients are medical petroleum jelly, anhydrous lanolin, pentol, stearic acid, nipazole and purified water.
Consider the pharmacological effect of 1% hydrocortisone ointment.
Pharmacological properties
Hydrocortisone acts as a glucocorticosteroid synthetic drug intended for external use. It can have decongestant, anti-inflammatory, and at the same time antipruritic effect. Thanks to it, the release of cytokines (interferon) from macrophages and lymphocytes is inhibited. 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, and the formation of lipocortin is induced. It significantly reduces cellular inflammatory infiltrates, reducing the migration of leukocytes and lymphocytes to the focus of inflammation. When prescribed in the recommended dose, it does not provoke systemic adverse reactions in patients.
Indications
In what cases is the use of a 1% hydrocortisone ointment indicated? The tool is used in inflammatory processes and allergic reactions on the part of the skin, characterized by a non-microbial etiology:
- In the presence of eczema.
- Against the background of allergic and contact dermatitis.
- In the case of neurodermatitis.
- With psoriasis.
The doctor should prescribe the remedy.
Contraindications
According to the instructions, a 1 percent hydrocortisone ointment is forbidden to use in the following cases:
- With increased sensitivity to the main component (hydrocortisone) or other ingredients of the drug.
- With wound, ulcerative lesions.
- Against the background of bacterial, viral and fungal skin diseases.
- In case of tuberculosis of the skin.
- With syphilitic tissue damage.
- Against the background of rosacea, acne vulgaris and perioral dermatitis.
- In the presence of a tumor of the skin.
- In childhood, up to two years.
With caution, this ointment is used for diabetes.
How to apply the product?
1% hydrocortisone ointment is used locally in dermatology. For adults, it is applied a thin layer three times a day to affected areas of the skin. The standard course is a period of six to fourteen days. An occlusive dressing may be used to enhance efficiency in a limited area.
Within 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 a 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 measures that lead to increased absorption of steroids (fixing and warming dressings). Against the background of long-term treatment, it is necessary to observe the weight, height and level of plasma cortisol.
It is required, among other things, to avoid getting the drug in question in the eyes. In the event that after one week the use of improvements is not observed, and the patient's condition worsens, and when symptoms resume, the use of this drug should be discontinued, and then consult a doctor regarding subsequent recovery tactics.
Side effects
As the instructions for use indicate, a 1 percent hydrocortisone ointment can provoke manifestations of individual intolerance in the form of hyperemia, edema 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 are also likely.
In order to prevent infectious damage to 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 in large areas, patients may experience hypercorticism, which is a manifestation of the resorptive effect of hydrocortisone acetate.
When the site of application is sufficiently extensive, a person may experience side effects that differ in general character. For example, we are talking about migraine-like pains, sleep disturbance, mental irritability, skin pigmentation, lack of potassium in the body, a malfunction in the menstrual cycle, increased intracranial pressure, and so on.
For children
What else does the instruction for hydrocortisone ointment tell us? For children from the age of one year, the product is applied in a thin layer on the affected area of the skin twice a day. The duration of treatment should not exceed five days. The use of a dressing for the treatment of small patients is strictly contraindicated. When using this ointment for the treatment of this category of patients, the total duration of the course is limited, excluding measures 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, the growth and volume of plasma cortisol. For children under twelve years of age, 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 forms of dermatitis in children. In the course of the experiments, experts had questions about which of the dosage forms of the drug in question is more effective.
To do this, an experiment was conducted in which one hundred and fifty children with atopic dermatitis participated. Earlier it was said that in the form of ointment, hydrocortisone acts more strongly compared to the same drug in liquid form. To confirm or disprove this statement, half of the participants' bodies were treated with a one percent ointment of the drug, and the other part with a suspension. In the course of treatment, it turned out that the effects of both ointments and emulsions are equally effective. True, the children liked the suspension treatment more. For the treatment of atopic dermatitis in babies, British doctors advise performing one treatment per day.
Thus, doctors recommend the use of hydrocortisone ointment to combat atopic dermatitis in children, but before treatment, it is necessary to consult a specialist.
1% hydrocortisone physiotherapy ointment
In the process of physiotherapeutic 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, drug components penetrate the skin, as well as the 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 using electrophoresis, antibiotics can be delivered to diseased joints along with anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as novocaine and other painkillers.
The procedure of ultrasound with hydrocortisone differs from electrophoresis primarily in that the medicine is delivered to the diseased joint not by means of electric current, but by means of the vibration effect, which is created by a special apparatus that directly affects the area above the affected area.
For joint use
This medicine is a direct analogue of Cortisone, but the difference is that it includes hydroxyl and hydrogen, while a carbon atom and oxygen are present in the substitute drug. But in terms of therapeutic effectiveness, this medication is almost identical to its counterpart, however, it differs in a stronger effect. In this regard, its dosage should be one third less.
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, tuberculosis and gonorrhea), tendovaginitis, bursitis and other similar diseases. The therapeutic result can occur six hours after the procedure. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor. It is important to strictly follow the instructions for the use of hydrocortisone ointment.
Reviews
Such an ointment is today a very popular therapeutic agent. In reviews, people praise her for her benefit in treating eczema, allergic and contact dermatitis, and also neurodermatitis and psoriasis.
The distrust of consumers is caused only by the fact that this medication is a hormonal drug. True, no serious side effects were reported during the treatment with Hydrocortisone. The only thing worth saying is that there are comments on the Internet about the occurrence of redness and itching due to prolonged treatment with the drug in question. In this regard, it is necessary to recall that the duration of treatment should not exceed the course indicated by the doctor.
Experts, 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.