Allergy creams

In such clinical manifestations of increased sensitivity of the body as exudative or lichenoid rashes on the skin, accompanied by itching, an effective anti-allergy cream helps to reduce the intensity of inflammation, eliminate itching, redness and swelling, and restore metabolism in the epidermis.

Allergy cream is a "lifeline" for those who suffer from dermal allergies. The general goal of anti-allergy therapy is to minimize symptoms and prevent possible complications. Unfortunately, the inexorable statistics say that only 40% of patients after a long course of treatment can say goodbye to allergies forever. More skeptical doctors, who, unlike the statisticians, encounter allergies in the literal sense of the word more often and closely, say that the percentage is much smaller.

Many clinical cases, when allergy passed without a trace, are associated with recovery from the main, basic disease. Nevertheless, pharmaceutical science continues to tirelessly research this formidable disease of the 21st century and develop new, more advanced drugs, medical science - allergology continues to study the symptoms and look for the root causes. So, allergy patients have hope that a breakthrough in the therapeutic strategy against allergies will soon be made. Especially in the treatment of the most acute form of the disease in terms of symptoms - skin allergy.

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, it is the one that receives the first attacks of external allergens or signals internal problems. Of course, the wisdom of the saying about the eyes as the mirror of the soul remains in force, in unison with this expression, the same should be said about the skin. The skin is a reflection of external and internal changes in the functioning of human organs and systems.

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Indications allergy creams

Indications for the use of such creams extend to both common urticaria and all types of itchy dermatoses and dermatitis, as well as eczema. In addition, they can be used for scratching chickenpox and mosquito bites.

As a rule, any type of allergy manifests itself with various symptoms on the patient's skin. This may be hyperemia, rash, erythema or papules, blisters or erosive wounds. All these violations of the integrity of the epidermis must be eliminated immediately, since allergic symptoms tend to develop very quickly.

In order to relieve itching, swelling, hyperemia, you should use external antiallergic drugs. As a rule, this is an allergy cream, ointment or special solutions that alleviate discomfort and stop the spread of symptoms. The task of using external antiallergic drugs is as follows:

• Eliminate itching, burning, and partially inflammation;
• Reduce dryness of the skin and protect it from additional aggressive external factors;
• As an additional therapy, prevent bacterial or fungal infection.

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Release form

It is clear that a complete list, including all the names of allergy creams, can be quite long, so we will list the main products recommended by dermatologists and allergists depending on the diagnosis.

Thus, for allergic rashes associated with atopic dermatitis, or when allergic diathesis is diagnosed, external preparations of various pharmacological groups are used.

These are hormonal creams for allergies that contain synthetic analogues of adrenal cortex hormones - glucocorticosteroids (GCS): Advantan, Elokom (other trade names - Uniderm, Gistan, Momat, Avekort), Afloderm (with aclomethasone dipropionate), Lokoid (synonyms: Hydrocortisone, Acortin, Laticort, etc.), Beloderm or Akriderm (with betamethasone dipropionate), etc. All of them are equally used as an anti-itch cream for allergies. Also read - Hormonal ointments for allergies

Non-hormonal anti-allergy creams such as Elidel, Bepanten (D-Panthenol, Dexpanthenol, Pantoderm), and the dermatotropic agent Skin-cap are also recommended.

Since the skin reacts to low temperatures by increasing the release of histamine from mast cells of the epidermis, the cold allergy cream should contain antihistamines, and the topical agent in this case is Fenistil (Dimetindene) cream-gel. See also - Treatment of cold allergies

Cosmeceutical products (consisting of extracts of medicinal plants) include Emolium and La-Cree creams.

For mild forms of urticaria, you can use chamomile cream (including the cream "Chamomile" from the "Clean Line" series, "Azulen" cream), regular baby cream containing chamomile extract. Positive effects are given by the baby cream "Antoshka" (with chamomile and three-part Bidens extracts), "Cheburashka" (contains plantain and chamomile extracts), as well as the cream for children "Little Red Riding Hood" - with St. John's wort extract and D-panthenol.

Perhaps, ASD cream based on Dorogov's antiseptic stimulator, which is part of the Aisida (RF) cosmetics series, will help relieve itching and redness for someone.

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Pharmacodynamics

The antihyperemic, antiallergenic, antipruritic and anti-edematous effects of Advantan cream are provided by the corticosteroid methylprednisolone aceponate, Elokom (Gistan) cream – mometasone furoate, Locoid – hydrocortisone-17-butyrate.

GCS inhibit the release of arachidonic acid, which leads to a decrease in the synthesis of inflammation mediators in mast cells. Thus, these drugs not only suppress cellular immunity, but also stabilize the membranes of immunocompetent skin cells, removing or minimizing all allergy symptoms.

Fenistil anti-itch cream for allergies contains the compound dimethindene (in the form of maleic acid salt), which is an antagonist of H1-histamine receptors. By blocking the effect of mast cell histamine on its receptors, Fenistil stops the development of an allergic reaction, and skin hyperemia with itching disappears.

The pharmacological action of Elidel cream is carried out by its pimecrolimus, a derivative of the macrolide ascomycin (which is synthesized by the bacteria Streptomyces tsukubaensis). This substance inactivates the protein enzyme calcineurin, as a result of which the synthesis of leukocyte cytokines and the reaction of lymphocytes and mast cells are blocked (with the cessation of the release of inflammatory mediators).

Thanks to dexpanthenol, which is converted into calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5) in skin cells, Bepanten ointment (Dexpanthenol, Pantoderm) reduces allergic skin irritation and promotes reparative processes, since it normalizes intracellular metabolism of lipids and fatty acids at the level of coenzyme A, which includes calcium pantothenate.

Skin-cap containing zinc pyrithione is an antiseptic cream (antibacterial and antifungal). Zinc pyrithione is a fungicide and bacteriostatic, especially active against fungi that cause seborrhea. This substance also inhibits the proliferation of keratinocytes, so Skin-cap is more often used in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis. To date, the pharmacodynamics of this dermatological agent has not been fully studied.

The cosmetic cream Emolium contains a phospholipid complex obtained from the oil of borage (Borago officinalis), rich in fatty acids, including polyunsaturated linoleic and γ-linolenic. These acids are believed to relieve skin inflammation and promote the restoration of damaged epidermis.

The manufacturers of La Cri cream claim that its anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effect is provided by such components as extracts of walnut, licorice root, herbs of succession and violet, as well as panthenol and α-bisabolol - a sesquiterpene alcohol similar to the natural terpenoid of chamomile (Matricaria recutita).

And among the active ingredients that chamomile cream contains, for example, the usual “Children's cream” based on the extract of pharmacy chamomile, in addition to bisabolol, there is azulene (chamazulene), which has an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect.

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Pharmacokinetics

The manufacturers of Advantan, Fenistil and Elidel do not provide pharmacokinetics in the official instructions.

The synthetic GCS mometasone furoate, the active ingredient of Elokom cream (Gistan), does not have a systemic effect due to the low level of absorption (up to 0.5-1%).

But hydrocortisone-17-butyrate, which is part of Locoid cream, accumulates in the epidermis and is transformed into hydrocortisone and ethyl acetic acid. The breakdown of the drug begins in the skin and is completed in the liver; metabolites are excreted by the kidneys and intestines.

After applying Bepanten cream to the skin, dexpanthenol penetrates the skin, transforms into pantothenate and enters the systemic bloodstream, binding to plasma proteins. It is eliminated as pantothenate with urine and feces.

Skin-cap is slowly absorbed into the blood and in very small quantities; mainly zinc pyrithione accumulates in the epidermal layer of the skin and continues to participate in the normalization of its condition.

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Dosing and administration

What kind of allergy cream can there be? How to choose it?

An ointment, gel or cream for allergies is usually an external agent containing corticosteroids. These are the most effective ointments and creams, despite their relative disadvantages, which include secondary allergic reactions, addiction and withdrawal syndrome. Corticosteroid ointments and creams are divided into those containing fluorine (fluorinated) and those not fluorinated.

If the inflammatory process on the skin develops quickly and passes into the acute stage, fluorinated agents are prescribed, they are quite effective, but they contain a lot of ingredients that have contraindications. Such an allergy cream is not applied to the face, skin folds and is used for no more than one week.

Non-fluorinated corticosteroids have a softer, more gentle effect, but are also effective. They can be applied for two weeks even to the face, and this is a sufficient period to eliminate skin symptoms of allergy, provided that the diagnosis is correct and complex therapy is used. Fluorinated ointments and creams can be applied to other areas of the body for a month if necessary. Corticosteroid ointments are prescribed only by a doctor; self-treatment with such drugs carries a high risk of complications.

Also, an allergy cream can simply be a hypoallergenic emollient. If the symptoms are not clearly expressed, the patient has contacted an allergist in time at an early stage of the disease, these drugs are often sufficient and it does not come to corticosteroids. Emollient creams are effective for dry rashes and dry papules, if the allergy manifests itself in the form of blisters, bubbles with exudate, then softening the skin will only aggravate the allergic reaction.

External remedies are quite effective, provided that they are selected and prescribed by a doctor. There are rules that any doctor who deals with skin allergies knows and follows:

• It is important to choose the right dosage form of the external preparation - ointment, cream, emulsion, solution. The choice depends on the severity of the symptom, the depth of the inflammatory dermal process, localization and prevalence;
• It is important to do a skin test beforehand to exclude the risk of additional allergy. The test is done on the forearm, the inner side, the test lasts from 15 to 20 minutes, some external agents are tested for an hour or even a day;
• It is important to strictly follow the sequence in changing external agents and their forms. Replacement depends on the dynamics of the allergic process;
• It is important to take into account the skin characteristics, the patient's age and general medical history. The absorption of the product depends on the characteristics and condition of the skin, its bioavailability and contraindications depend on age, and the degree of risk of exacerbating the disease depends on the medical history.

Allergy cream can also be cosmetic. Cosmetology has long become not just a related medical field, but a full-fledged separate direction in medicine. A new product in the series of anti-allergic external preparations is called emollient. It is both a medicinal and cosmetic product. It relieves irritation, softens the skin and is quite effective in mild forms of skin allergies.

The glucocorticosteroid allergy creams discussed in this review should be applied to the affected skin in a very thin layer, rubbing in gently, once every 24 hours.

It is recommended to apply Fenistil to irritated areas of the skin 2-3-4 times a day; sun exposure should be avoided.

Non-hormonal anti-allergy creams – Elidel, Bepanten, Skin-cap, Emolium, La Cri, chamomile cream – are used twice a day. And any baby cream – two or three times a day.

Overdose has been noted only for Elokom and Lokoid creams: in case of prolonged use of these hormonal creams on large areas of the skin, hypercorticism may develop (manifested by obesity of the face, neck, abdomen and back; thinning of the skin on the back of the hands; muscle atrophy and weakness; osteoporosis, etc.).

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Use allergy creams during pregnancy

Creams Advantan, Elokom (Gistan), Lokoid, as well as the antihistamine drug Fenistil during pregnancy and lactation can be used in exceptional circumstances and only taking into account the balance of benefits for the pregnant woman and risks for her future child. Fenistil is prohibited for use in the first three months of pregnancy.

Pregnant women are allowed to use anti-allergy creams Elidel, Bepanten, Skin-cap.

Contraindications

Creams with GCS Advantan, Elokom (Gistan), Lokoid, etc. are contraindicated for use in the presence of rosacea, viral infection (herpes virus), mycosis, cutaneous tuberculosis; are not used to treat children under two years of age.

Fenistil is contraindicated for use in children under 12 months, and Elidel – under three months. In addition, contraindications for Elidel cream include: skin tissue dysplasia; extensive erythroderma; bacterial, viral and fungal skin diseases.

Anti-allergy creams Bepanten and Skin-cap are not used in the presence of individual hypersensitivity to these products.

Cosmetic creams, as a rule, have no contraindications.

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Side effects allergy creams

The main side effects that may occur are:

• hormonal anti-allergy creams, including Elokom, Advantan, Lokoid, etc. – hyperemia, burning and itching of the skin; acne and inflammation of the hair follicles; increased hair growth; skin pigmentation disorders; stripe atrophoderma of the skin.
• Fenistil – burning and excessive dryness of the skin.
• Elidel – irritation, redness, dryness and burning of the skin; rashes (including herpesvirus and papillomatous); increased or decreased pigmentation.
• The use of Bepanten and Skin-cap causes side effects (in the form of hives and itching) in rare cases associated with an individual reaction to these drugs.

Interactions with other drugs

Skin-cap cream should not be used simultaneously with hormonal creams and ointments; it is not recommended to use Fenistil cream and any other external agents simultaneously.

No interactions of Advantan, Elokom, Lokoid, Elidel and Bepanten with other drugs have been noted.

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Storage conditions

Storage conditions: at a temperature not exceeding +25°C, in a dry, dark place.

Shelf life

The shelf life of Advantan and Bepanten creams is three years; Elokom (Gistan), Lokoid, Fenistil, Elidel, Skin-cap – two years.

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