Patient Information Leaflet

Patient Information Leaflet

Efcortelan Cream

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What you should know about Efcortelan Cream

What your cream does

Efcortelan Cream is a mild treatment for inflamed skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO READ THIS CAREFULLY BEFORE STARTING TREATMENT

Following this advice gives the cream a chance to work safely and effectively.

What is in your cream

Efcortelan Cream is one of a group of medicines called topical steroids. "Topical" means they are put on the skin. Topical steroids reduce the redness and itchiness of certain skin problems. (They should not be confused with "anabolic" steroids misused by some body builders and taken as tablets or injections).

Efcortelan Cream is a mild topical steroid and is often used to manage skin problems in between short courses of a stronger preparation.

Ingredients of the cream include:

The active ingredient - hydrocortisone 0.5%, 1%, or 2.5% (see label)

a preservative - chlorocresol

in a base containing cetomacrogol 1000, cetostearyl alcohol, white soft paraffin and liquid paraffin.

The cream does not contain any lanolin, parabens or colouring agents.

Before you use your cream

This cream has been prescribed to treat the skin problem that you showed to your doctor.

DO NOT put it on any other skin problems as it could make them worse, especially skin infections such as cold sores, herpes, impetigo, athletes foot, chicken pox, ringworm or thrush.

If you have had an allergy to any creams or ointments in the past

If you think you may be pregnant

Did you tell your doctor at the last visit or an earlier visit?

IF YOU DID NOT TELL YOUR DOCTOR THEN YOU SHOULD DO SO BEFORE STARTING THE TREATMENT

Even so, your doctor may still want you to use the cream.

Face –

YOU SHOULD NOT normally use on the face for many weeks or months.

Children –

DO NOT use under the napkin, or airtight dressing of an infant for more than one week. (These make it easier for the active ingredient to pass through the skin).

How to use your cream

If your doctor has told you in detail HOW MUCH to use and HOW OFTEN then keep to this advice.

If you are not sure then follow the advice on the back of this leaflet.

Unless told by your doctor:

YOU SHOULD NOT use more than this.
YOU SHOULD NOT use on large areas of the body for a long time (such as nearly every day for many weeks or months). Although Efcortelan Cream is generally regarded as safe even when used like this for many months it may be possible to produce side effects if overused. Such overuse may thin the skin so that it damages easily and some of the active ingredient may pass through the skin and affect other parts of the body, especially in infants and children.

Has the cream any side effects?

Most people find using this cream causes no problems when used in the right amount for the correct length of time (See above as well as guidance on back of this leaflet).

IF you find your condition gets worse during treatment you may be allergic to the cream or have a skin infection.

STOP USING THE CREAM AND TELL YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Repeated courses of topical steroids over a long period of time may sometimes cause changes in hair growth and skin colour.

Guidance on how much cream to use

If your doctor has told you in detail how to use the cream then keep to that advice otherwise:-

two or three times a day, after washing your hands, gently rub the correct amount of cream into the skin until it has all disappeared.

For an adult:

You should find that

two fingertips of cream will treat both hands or one foot

three fingertips of cream will treat one arm

six fingertips of cream will treat one leg

fourteen fingertips of cream will treat the front and back of one trunk

Fingertip Units

Do not worry if you find you need a little more or a little less than this - it is only a rough guide.

Wash your hands before using the cream. Gently rub the correct amount into the skin until it has all disappeared. Unless used for treating the hands wash them again after using the cream. Anyone who helps to rub in the cream should also do the same or wear disposable plastic gloves.

For a child:

The smaller the child the less you use.

A child of 6 months to 1 year needs about a quarter of the adult amount and a child of 4 years about one third.

Efcortelan Ointment

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What is in your ointment

Efcortelan Ointment is one of a group of medicines called topical steroids. "Topical" means they are put on the skin. Topical steroids reduce the redness and itchiness of certain skin problems. (They should not be confused with "anabolic" steroids misused by some body builders and taken as tablets or injections).

Ingredients of the ointment include:

The active ingredient - hydrocortisone 0.5%, 1% or 2.5% (see label)

in a base containing white soft paraffin and liquid paraffin.

The ointment does not contain any lanolin, parabens or colouring agents.