APPENDICES: EMOLLIENTS AND RELATED TREATMENTS

Posted by admin on April 20, 2009 under Allergies | Be the First to Comment

An emollient is a substance that soothes the skin and restores water to it, thus damping down the symptoms of eczema. White soft paraffin, glycerin and lanolin are commonly used. Most emollients and similar preparations contain several different ingredients. Urea is sometimes added to the cream or ointment because it helps the skin to bind water, but it may sting slightly and has a urine-like smell. Emollients may be applied directly to the skin or added to the bath, and some can be used instead of soap.

Crepe bandages soaked in calamine lotion, or bandages soaked in saline, are also used in eczema, to relieve the itching and prevent scratching.

Drugs which reduce itching (antipruritics) such as crotamiton (Eurax) or antazoline (R.B.C.) may also be used. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (see Section 7) such as bufexamac (Parfenac) are sometimes helpful.

Soothing treatments of this type are generally tried as a first step, where the eczema is not severe. They are free of side-effects, although a small minority of patients may become sensitized to lanolin, so that lanolin-containing creams cannot be used thereafter.

Trade names of emollients and other soothing treatments used for eczema

Alcoderm

Alpha Ken

Aquadrate

Aveeno

Balneum

Calmurid

Diprobase

Eczederm

Emulsiderm

Epogam

Eurax