Any skin problems cause not only physical discomfort, but also psychological. The patient may experience itching and pain. And if the child has problems, the discomfort is exacerbated. The kid closes in himself and does not want to communicate with peers. Some diseases are quickly eliminated with medications. But problems like eczema or psoriasis cannot always be cured without hormones. Many dermatologists today recommend the drug "Lokoid" (cream or ointment).
What does the medicine consist of?
Today Lokoid cream (for children) has only the most positive reviews and is widely used in medical practice. Release it in Italy and Russia. The drug is intended for external use only. Lokoid is released in the form of cream and ointment. It is the cream that is most preferred for children. The main active ingredient of the drug is hydrocortisone butyrate. As auxiliary substances, macrogol, liquid paraffin, anhydrous sodium citrate, anhydrous citric acid, and also purified water are used.
Lokoid (cream) is produced in special aluminum tubes that facilitate the use of the drug and also significantly extend its duration. Despite the fact that the drug is hormonal, in pharmacies it is dispensed without a prescription. Store the cream in a dark place out of the reach of children. The drug can be left in the refrigerator, but it is not recommended to freeze it. The optimum storage temperature is 25 degrees.
Therapeutic effect
What kind of medication is Lokoid? The cream is a hormonal drug that is applied externally. Glucocorticoid hormone under the influence of butyric acid becomes more active, due to which the therapeutic effect of the drug is enhanced. "Lokoid" refers to a group of synthetic drugs. The main component has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. Unpleasant symptoms such as itchy skin, swelling and peeling go away. Modified glucocorticoid has another positive property. The human body does not get used to the hormone. Thanks to this, Lokoid (cream) is approved for use by children over 6 months of age.
Most drugs that are intended to treat skin diseases give only a temporary effect. This cannot be said of a tool such as Lokoid. The cream, whose composition includes the strongest anti-inflammatory components, permanently eliminates the problem. After treatment, remission does not occur.
When the drug is applied to the skin, the active hormone accumulates in the deep layers of the epidermis. Only a small part of the drug is absorbed into the systemic circulation. The medication is completely utilized in the liver.
When is Lokoid prescribed?
The drug is most often used to treat the surface layers of the skin. If a bacterial infection joins, passing into the deeper layers, the cream no longer has the desired effect. The drug can be prescribed for the treatment of eczema, various dermatitis, psoriasis, pruritus, lichen planus, seborrhea and photodermatosis in adults and children.
The drug "Lokoid" is an excellent tool for relieving itching and redness after insect bites. In rare cases, the drug is used in the treatment of allergic rashes in children. Despite the fact that “Lokoid” (cream) is produced without a prescription, the instructions for use should be studied first. You can not engage in self-medication, especially when it comes to the child. It is worth contacting a doctor who will confirm the possibility of using this tool.
To whom is Lokoid Cream contraindicated?
It is worth remembering that the drug is hormonal. Therefore, he has many contraindications. Lokoid cream is not prescribed for severe forms of acne, infectious skin diseases, fungal infections, the appearance of neoplasms on the skin (both benign and malignant). For the treatment of shingles and chickenpox, the drug is also not suitable. Its use is also unacceptable for the treatment of herpes virus infection. The patient cannot know in advance what kind of rashes appear on the skin. For those who have decided to purchase Lokoid cream, reviews should not be a decisive factor in choosing a medication. Be sure to consult a dermatologist.
Do not use the drug if the integrity of the skin is impaired. Applying cream to ulcers and wounds can only exacerbate the problem. People with a tendency to allergic reactions also do not take the drug.
Use by pregnant women and children
The drug is not prohibited for use during pregnancy and lactation. For children in the first year of life, a medication can also be prescribed. The dosage used is the same as in the treatment of adult patients. The only difference is that pregnant women and children should be constantly monitored by a doctor. The use of Lokoid cream in women in a position is justified only when the intended benefit for the pregnant woman exceeds the possible harm to the fetus.
Before using Lokoid cream or ointment for treating children, you should consult a pediatrician. At the age of patients under three years of age, the drug is most often used to treat chronic pathological processes that are not amenable to more gentle therapy. For children, the drug can also be prescribed for the treatment of skin integuments. The dosage and other nuances of treatment should be discussed with a dermatologist.
Dosage
It is worth consulting with a doctor before taking Lokoid Cream. Instructions, price, indications - all this can be clarified in the pharmacy. But you can start taking the drug only after a series of tests. A specialist can prescribe Lokoid cream only when he is sure that the disease is not viral in nature. The drug is used in the treatment of pathological processes on the skin that are not accompanied by weeping. The tool is applied only to the affected areas in a small layer. For prevention, Lokoid cream is not used. It is recommended to apply the product on the skin up to three times a day.
The cream is applied to damaged areas with special massaging movements. This ensures good penetration of the main active ingredient into the deeper layers of the skin. If a specialist notes a positive trend in the treatment of the disease, the frequency of use of the drug is reduced to several times a week. It is important to avoid overdose during therapy with such a medication as Lokoid cream. The instruction says that the dosage during the week should not exceed 30 g for children and 60 g for adults.
Side effects
Side effects from the use of the drug can be both systemic and local. The first most often occur with an overdose or when using occlusive dressings. They appear in the form of menstrual irregularities, darkening and itching of the skin, brittle bones, and stomach ulcers may develop . Children may experience growth retardation, memory impairment, and sleep disturbance. When the first side effects appear, you should cancel the Lokoid cream. The instruction does not describe serious cases of negative reactions. But it's still worth it to play it safe. A dermatologist will offer an alternative or reduce the dosage of the drug.
Local side effects can occur only where the cream is applied. They appear in the form of itching and redness of the skin, an increase in the amount of hair, irritation, dryness, atrophy. It’s worth the alarm if, in the process of using the Lokoid cream in children, the skin condition only worsens.
Cream Lokoid. Issue price
The drug "Lokoid" is hormonal, so it is not cheap. The final cost depends on the form of release. Most preferred for children is the Lokoid cream. The price of the drug in pharmacies averages 290 rubles. The product is stored in a cool place for no more than three years.
Lokoid ointment can be stored at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius for up to five years. The cost of this form of the drug is 300 rubles. The least popular is the Lokoid emulsion. The drug is stored for no more than two years, but is cheaper. At the pharmacy, he will have to pay 230 rubles.
Drug Reviews
Many patients note that the Lokoid cream helps to significantly improve the condition of the skin with various dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. At the same time, many note that the hormonal nature of the drug makes itself felt. The use of cream or ointment without consulting a dermatologist is fraught with the development of serious adverse reactions. Some patients note that the drug gives only a temporary effect. Moreover, if you understand the situation, dissatisfied patients do not undergo a full course of treatment.
Some are scared by the composition of the drug. Parents are not in a hurry to use the hormone. Do not forget that the active substance does not accumulate in the body at all. This means that any side effects are associated only with improper use of the drug, and not with its hormonal nature. In order for the Lokoid cream to show a good result, it is worth consulting a dermatologist, as well as carefully study the instructions before use.
Are there any analogues?
In pharmacies, you can find many drugs that can replace Lokoid (cream). Analogs have the same indications and the main active components. Popular today is the remedy "Licort" based on hydrocortisone. The drug is available in the form of ointment, cream and solution. Those who wish to refuse hormone therapy should not choose Laticort.
There are analogues that have the same therapeutic effect as the Lokoid cream, but the composition is slightly different. The selection of the drug in accordance with the individual characteristics of the patient should be entrusted to a specialist. Below are the medicines that can replace the Lokoid cream.
Afloderm ointment for external use
The main active ingredient of the drug is alklomethasone dipropionate. As auxiliary substances, sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate, propylene glycol, soft white paraffin, and also purified water are used. The medication is prescribed for allergic reactions to insect bites, solar and atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. The drug in the form of a cream can be used for children from 6 months. It is worth consulting a pediatrician first.
Afloderm is not prescribed for patients with tuberculosis and viral infections of the skin, chicken pox. Like the Lokoid Lipokrem cream, the Afloderm medication cannot be used if there are open wounds. Side effects such as dryness, skin sensitivity, severe itching, and pain are possible. For pregnant and lactating women, the drug is prescribed with caution.
The drug for external use "Cloveit"
A drug in the form of a cream or ointment. The main active ingredient is clobetasol propionate. Liquid paraffin, white petrolatum, triglycerides of decanoic and octanoic acids, citric acid, and also purified water are auxiliary. The remedy can be prescribed for the treatment of lichen planus, psoriasis and eczema. Cloveit is contraindicated in case of skin cancer, viral dermatitis, rosacea. Cream is contraindicated for children under one year of age, as well as for pregnant and lactating women.