13 best remedies for eczema

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Eczema together with psoriasis are the most common skin diseases, and eczema accounts for up to 40% of all dermatological pathology. Translated from the Greek 'eczema' means 'to boil', 'to rush out'. This definition quite accurately implies the origin of this disease. Skin symptoms are quite often formed under the influence of internal factors, and are manifested by a polymorphic rash, symptoms of acute inflammation, signs of serous inflammatory reactions appear, in which weeping develops. The characteristic symptom of eczema will be a rather severe and excruciating itching, which reduces the quality of life.

Specialists – dermatologists say that eczema can be cured only after the exact cause is established. But this is not always easy: eczema is a polyetiological disease. A predisposing or producing factor can be metabolic disorder, infectious diseases, heredity, endocrine disorders, exposure to chemicals, medication, food allergies, and even the migration of pathogens from foci of chronic infection.

It is safe to say that having found the cause, there is no doubt that eczema will be completely healed. Perhaps the exception is the hereditary form: if eczema was diagnosed in the mother, then the child will suffer from it with a frequency of up to 40%, and the frequency rises to 60% if both parents are sick. But even in this case, knowing about the possible risk, you can reduce it to a minimum by following the rules of a healthy lifestyle.

Eczema is not only polyetiological, but also polymorphic disease. Experts distinguish four forms of eczema according to its structure, and even more in origin. The acute stage, or exacerbation in a typical form, proceeds as the appearance of bubbles that are located on the reddened and swollen skin. Eczema is characterized by the presence of wetness, then the appearance of serous crusts, as the rash changes, more and more new elements gradually appear. Therefore, at the same time on the skin, you can see different stages of eczematous rash.

So the reddened spot is replaced by a tubercle, then a bubble appears, it opens with the appearance of wetness and a crust forms. With a decrease in exacerbation and a transition to remission, the phenomenon of excessive keratinization of the skin, or lichenification, most often occurs, scales and traces of scratching appear. At the chronic stage, eczema is characterized by hyperpigmentation, increased skin pattern. The characteristic symptoms of exacerbation of eczema include itching, discomfort, soreness and burning. But we will not delve into the various options for the course and classification of eczema, this is not the task of this material.

Our task is to look through the groups of drugs that are used for various forms of eczema and, if possible, describe the most effective and popular representatives. Before treating any disease, you need to be well aware of the goals of this treatment. For eczema, the goal of proper treatment would be:

1. stopping the progression of the disease;
2. reduced itching and improved quality of life;
3. elimination of existing rashes;
4. prevention of relapse.

Each of these stages of treatment has its own approaches and drugs, and we will start with antihistamines of all generations that are used to treat eczema. First, the INN, or international non-proprietary name, is indicated for the drug, then the original drug, and then its commercial copies, or generics, are listed. The average price for the original drug is given, valid for the summer of 2019 for pharmacies of all forms of ownership in the Russian Federation.

Rating of the best remedies for eczema treatment

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Antihistamines for eczema	1	Chloropyramine (Suprastin)	124 RUB
	2	Ceterizin (Zyrtec, Zodak, Parlazin, Tsetrin)	309 r
	3	Desloratadine (Erius)	RUB 570
	4	Ketotifen (Zaditen)	425 RUB
	5	Sodium thiosulfate (background information)	RUB 99
Herbal sedatives	1	Novo-Passit	184 r
	2	Persen	321 RUB
	3	Fito-sedan collection number 2	RUB 61
Topical treatment for eczema	1	Antiseptics and lotions	–
Glucocorticoids	1	Weak hormones: hydrocortisone ointment	RUB 67
	2	Moderate strength: Flumethasone (Lorinden), Triamcinolone (Fluorocort), Alklomethasone (Afloderm)	356 r
	3	Strong hormones: Mometasone (Elokom), methylprednisolone (Advantan)	74 RUB
	4	Superstrong: Clobetasone (Dermovate)	RUB 485

Antihistamines for eczema

All generations of antihistamines are widely used to treat eczema. The first generation includes Suprastin, Tavegil, Diazolin, Fenkarol and even rough Diphenhydramine, which causes dry mouth, reflex urinary retention and severe drowsiness. The first generation drugs easily penetrate the central nervous system and have a sedative and hypnotic effect.

If for 'purely antiallergic drugs' sedation and drowsiness are harmful, and they are trying to get rid of them, then for patients with severe itching and insomnia, such effects help a lot to fall asleep and get rid of unpleasant night sensations. But they should not be prescribed to patients with eczema, whose work is associated with vehicles, or the need to perform highly organized and fast movements.

Second-generation drugs, to which, for example, Zyrtec and Claritin belong, are no longer able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier into the structures of the central nervous system. They do not cause sedation and drowsiness, but they quickly suppress itching, and this effect persists for quite a long time. The 2nd generation means include drugs such as Cetrin or Erius. However, all these 2-generation drugs, with long-term use, can have a harmful effect on the heart, or potentiate the cardiotoxic effect. Therefore, they should be used preferably in short courses and with caution.

Non-medical readers should be warned of some confusion with generations of antihistamines. Manufacturers at one time hastened to announce the same drugs as 3rd generation means: Erius, Telfast, and others, namely those containing levocetirizine, desloratadine, and phenoxfenadine. However, pretty soon they were removed from the third generation, since they do not meet the necessary new standards: there should be a complete absence of cardiotoxicity, the absence of any interaction with other drugs, and a complete absence of influence on the reaction rate, attention, and lack of drowsiness. Until now, no such remedies have been found, therefore, it can be assumed that in the treatment of eczema, funds of the 1st and 2nd generations are used.

Membrane stabilizers (ketotifen) adjoin them closely. The function of membrane stabilizers is to prevent exacerbation. They are able to stabilize the membranes of special cells called mast cells. They must be given to the patient together with antihistamines, since the effect of membrane stabilization develops over a long period of time, on average, after a month. However, there is the antihistamine Claritin (Loratadine), which has a membrane-stabilizing effect.

Chloropyramine (Suprastin)

Rating: 4.9

Suprastin is a typical representative of first generation antihistamines, which, nevertheless, is able to quickly fight not only eczema, but also acute allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, acute conjunctivitis, itching, urticaria, Quincke's edema and other unpleasant conditions.

In addition to the antipruritic effect, Suprastin is used as an antiemetic drug, simultaneously possessing moderate antispasmodic activity. After taking 1 tablet, the therapeutic effect develops in 20-30 minutes, after an hour it reaches its maximum effect, and lasts for 6 hours. It is necessary to use Suprastin during meals, one tablet three times a day, but not more than 2 mg per kilogram of weight. Accordingly, for a patient weighing 100 kilograms, the daily dose should never exceed 200 mg, or 8 tablets. Suprastin is produced by the Hungarian pharmaceutical company Egis, and one pack of 20 25 mg tablets will cost, on average, 120 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

Both the advantage and, at the same time, the disadvantage for Suprastin will be the very sedative effect mentioned above. However, even with eczema, you cannot take the drug more than is required: in case of an overdose, hallucinations, impaired coordination of movements, convulsions, dry mouth, and other unpleasant and dangerous symptoms may occur. The drug is contraindicated in an acute attack of bronchial asthma, in pregnant and lactating women, in children under three years of age.

Ceterizin (Zyrtec, Zodak, Parlazin, Tsetrin)

Rating: 4.8

Zyrtec, or the original and most expensive (but also the most effective) drug in this line – 2 generations, according to INN has the name Ceterizin in the form of hydrochloride. In terms of biochemical activity, it blocks the H-1 histamine receptors, being a competitive histamine antagonist. But at the same time it does not have anticholinergic action and antiserotonin effects, as drugs of the first generation.

When taken in therapeutic doses, without an overdose, no sedation occurs, and the effect of taking it develops much faster than if you use 1st generation drugs. So, if you take one tablet of Zyrtek in 10 mg, then after 20 minutes half of all patients felt the onset of the effect, and after an hour the onset of the effect is felt by all patients. Unlike Suprastin, after a single dose of Zyrtek's tablet, the duration of the antipruritic and antihistamine action is more than a day. If the drug is canceled, the effect of the action continues to persist for 3 days after the cancellation.

In addition to eczema, the drug is successfully prescribed for allergic rhinitis, hay fever, urticaria and other types of allergic dermatoses. Zyrtec is prescribed for sneezing, lacrimation, Quincke's edema, conjunctival hyperemia. It is necessary to take it one tablet, 10 mg once a day, and the duration of the course of treatment, on average, with exacerbation of various forms of eczema is 10-20 days. Zyrtec is produced by the Swiss company UCB, and one pack of 20 tablets costs, on average, 425 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of Zyrtek can be considered the absence of sedation and the ability to safely prescribe it to persons while driving a car and when working with machines and mechanisms. However, it is necessary to refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages, as depression of the central nervous system may develop. The drug is contraindicated, in addition to hypersensitivity, in pregnant and lactating women, with severe forms of renal failure, in children under 6 years of age. They can be prescribed Zyrtec in drops. Also, its price can be a relative disadvantage. Still, 425 rubles. for many categories of the population, this is a very significant amount. You should also be aware of the side effects. Common symptoms include headache, fatigue, dry mouth, and nasal congestion. Fortunately, the 'side effects' are dose dependent and occur as the dose is increased.

Desloratadine (Erius)

Rating: 4.7

As mentioned above, Erius and similar drugs were previously declared as 3-generation drugs, but many experts returned them 'from heaven to earth' and left them in the second generation. But, nevertheless, these are highly effective and relatively safe drugs, but nevertheless it must be borne in mind that with prolonged use in large doses, they can have a harmful effect on the heart, together with other 2nd generation drugs.

Erius is indicated for all kinds of urticaria, itchy skin, allergic rhinitis and symptoms of food and drug allergies: sneezing, profuse rhinorrhea, nasal congestion and itching in the eyes, itching of the mouth and similar symptoms. It is necessary to use Erius, regardless of food intake, by mouth, one 5 mg tablet once a day, for 10-20 days. Erius is produced by the well-known pharmaceutical company Schering-Plow. One package of only 10 tablets costs 730 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

Erius is considered a very good medicine by doctors and patients, and, perhaps, the price is the main brake on its widespread use. So, the price of a 10-day course of treatment will be 730 rubles, which may be overwhelming. However, there are also cheaper analogs. The drug Desal can be purchased for 155 rubles, and desloratadine from the Canonpharm production company located in the Moscow region can be purchased even for 130 rubles, which is five and a half times cheaper than the original drug. At the same time, the question of what purity the original substance will be, who produces it, and what is the effectiveness of this particular substance, remains open. Nevertheless, if possible, we advise you to take care of your health and not buy extremely cheap domestic copies. Substances are not produced in Russia, and they are purchased in China, India and other countries. And if Indian substances are quite high quality (in India there are companies of Sun, Dr. Reddis and others), then little is known about other countries.

Some of the side effects of Erius should also be kept in mind. The most common side effect may be headache and dry mouth, but the words 'often' in this case means that this side effect occurs no more than 10% of patients. It is good that Erius is very insensitive to dosage, and it is difficult to achieve overdose symptoms. So, even if you take a dose that is 5 times higher than the recommended one, no special symptoms were noted during the study. This can be considered an obvious plus, and speaks of great therapeutic breadth. Accordingly, this drug is quite safe.

Ketotifen (Zaditen)

Rating: 4.6

Ketotifen, or Zaditen, is currently prescribed infrequently for eczema, but its presence in the complex therapy allows, as in the case of Claritin, to reduce the intensity of exacerbations and make them more rare. In addition to eczema, the remedy is indicated for all forms of bronchial asthma, with varieties of allergic bronchitis, hay fever, with acute and chronic urticaria, various forms of atopic dermatitis and conjunctivitis.

Adults should use Zaditen one tablet twice a day, 2 mg tablets. If necessary, you can increase the dose, but only as directed by your doctor. It is advisable to give tablets in the evening. Produced by Zaditen, the Portuguese company Dolphin Pharmaceuticals with the participation of Novartis. One package contains 30 tablets of 1 mg. Zaditen is an original drug, and one package will cost 1980 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

While taking Zaditen, you need to remember that it enhances the effect of alcohol and other antihistamines, it should not be given to pregnant and lactating women, and side effects can be quite rare – a sedative reaction, dry mouth. However, it is an original and reliable drug, and in complex therapy it is able to achieve a reduction in the duration of treatment with antihistamines, helps to relieve acute and chronic exacerbation of skin inflammation in eczema, and accelerates the transfer of eczema to the remission stage. Therefore, despite its high cost, it is included in the official recommendations for the treatment of eczema of the Russian Ministry of Health.

Sodium thiosulfate (background information)

Rating: 4.4

Close to antiallergic and membrane-stabilizing drugs is the rather popular, inexpensive and effective sodium thiosulfate, which belongs to detoxification agents. In fact, it was first used as an antidote against the toxic effects of heavy metal salts, cyanides and arsenic. But its positive effect has been noticed in various forms of allergy. In addition, sodium thiosulfate is used as a remedy for the treatment of scabies, since sodium thiosulfate combines with an acid (vinegar) to form free sulfur and sulfur dioxide. And these compounds have a detrimental effect on the itch mite.

In the case of allergic diseases, the mechanism of action of sodium thiosulfate is not clear enough, but this does not prevent its widespread use in atopic dermatitis and eczema. Sodium thiosulfate is used in a course, since it is prescribed in the form of intravenous infusions, solution for injection – 30%, in packs of 10 ampoules, in each ampoule – 10 milliliters. Dalkhimpharm produces sodium thiosulfate, and it is inexpensive: 76 rubles. per packing. However, it is necessary to carry out this treatment under the supervision of a physician, since there may be allergic reactions, or signs of individual intolerance.

Herbal sedatives

Eczema is almost always itching, poor sleep, the desire to have clear skin and the opportunity not to hide it under clothes in the summer. Painful symptoms and unquenched desires form a chronic neurosis, therefore it is necessary in uncomplicated cases to use various sedative herbal preparations, mild antidepressants. This helps relieve excessive emotional stress, calm down and normalize sleep. Below are three well-known OTC herbal remedies that can help improve the emotional state of eczema and other skin conditions.

Novo-Passit

Rating: 4.9

The first of these known drugs is Novo-Passit. It comes in a bottle, in the form of a syrup, and is considered a classic herbal sedative. In addition, it is available in tablets, which are more convenient to use. The tablets contain dry extract of Valerian officinalis, hawthorn, passionflower, St. John's wort, lemon balm, elderberry and hops. Additionally, guaifenesin is introduced into it, and this component has a sedative and anxiolytic effect, further enhancing the anti-anxiety effect.

Of course, Novo-Passit is used much more widely, for example, for tension headaches, migraines, functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, with constant nervous tension at work, with symptoms of neurocirculatory dystonia and with menopause. However, one of the official indications is the presence of itchy dermatosis, including atopic eczema.

It is necessary to prescribe the drug inside, one tablet 3 times a day. The drug can be taken with or without food. Novo-Passit is produced by the Czech pharmaceutical company Ivex Pharmaceuticals, and the cost of a package of 30 tablets, designed for a ten-day course of treatment, costs, on average, 445 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

Novopassit is good for mild, unexpressed neurotic disorders, but if the patient nevertheless has severe anxiety, neurosis or fear, then only this over-the-counter drug, like, incidentally, the others presented here, cannot be dispensed with. Consultation with a psychiatrist is required.

When treating with Novo-Passit, it is forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages, and it is also advisable for fair-skinned people to avoid exposure to sunlight, and also not to visit a solarium (St. John's wort). The drug is usually well tolerated, but overdose symptoms are also possible. For example, they can manifest as drowsiness, muscle weakness or joint pain, most often guaifenesin is to blame. An overdose is considered to be taking more than 3 tablets per day. The drug contains St. John's wort, therefore it is necessary for women using hormonal contraceptives to use the second method of contraception, for example local, since St. John's wort reduces the effectiveness of the hormonal contraceptive effect.

Persen

Rating: 4.8

Persen is also a well-known sedative that is good for falling asleep, agitation, nervousness, irritability and anxiety. Unlike the previous product, it does not contain guaifenesin and St. John's wort, it contains only valerian, mint and lemon balm extract. As a result, it acts soothingly, but gently, shows mild antispasmodic activity.

Official indications do not include eczema or itchy dermatoses, only irritability, but it is quite clear that severe itching very quickly leads to irritability, and therefore eczema can be considered almost a direct indication for use, despite the absence of this diagnosis in the official instructions.

It is advisable to use Persen for adults, two to three tablets three times a day, and in the presence of insomnia, it is advisable to take the last intake an hour before bedtime. The maximum daily dose should not exceed 12 tablets. The course of treatment for exacerbation of eczema and other itchy dermatoses is usually two to three weeks. Persen is produced by the Lek company from Slovenia, one pack of 40 tablets will cost, on average, 370 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

Persen has fewer drawbacks than the previous drug, it does not have a photosensitizing effect, and, perhaps, from the contraindications, only individual intolerance can be called. With prolonged use, due to the relaxing effect on the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, atonic constipation may occur in patients with a tendency to such a condition. It should also be borne in mind that, like any sedative drug, Persen can enhance the effects of sleeping pills, drugs that affect the central nervous system, some drugs to lower blood pressure, anxiolytics and antipsychotics. It is important to remember that you cannot take the drug for more than 2 months.

Fito-sedan collection number 2

Rating: 4.7

Soothing, sedative collection Fitosedan No. 2, perhaps, has the most democratic price with good quality, it is produced by the well-known association of medicinal herbs – Krasnogorskleksredstva. It is sold not only in dry form, but also in separate filter bags, It contains licorice root, motherwort herb, valerian rhizomes and roots, hop fruit and peppermint leaves.

The drug must be infused, and, as in the previous case, it has a calming and antispasmodic effect. By itself, this dosage form is nothing more than a mixture of dried and crushed stems, leaves, roots, and flowers, sweetish – bitter in taste. Phytosedan is indicated for eczema at all stages, but especially with an exacerbation, when severe itching and sleep disturbances occur. It must be used by brewing one teaspoon (or one filter bag) for half a glass of boiling water, after which it must be infused for 15 minutes. After that, another 100 milliliters of boiled water is added and the resulting glass of infusion is drunk. You can also apply half a glass, preferably half an hour before meals, the course of treatment is up to 1 month. When stored for several hours, the finished infusion precipitates, therefore, if you cook it immediately for the whole day, then shake the infusion before each use. Phytosedan is produced by Krasnogorskleksredstva company, and a package containing 50 grams of dry collection will cost only 75 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The disadvantage of Phytosedan in the package is the need to measure the dry dosage form, use a special teapot, or a special mug with a grating press, which is more convenient. Filter bags in this sense are much more practical, but as you know, there are many difficulties with them. The filter bag may break and you will have to change the entire portion.

On the other hand, this tool is inexpensive, practically free of contraindications and side effects. Only in case of an overdose, when using a strong solution of infusions in very large doses, drowsiness, muscle weakness and decreased performance may occur. People with hypotonic biliary dyskinesia after overdose may experience abdominal pain, nausea, belching, or diarrhea.

Topical treatment for eczema

As a rule, eczema is treated locally, and especially in the form of self-medication. Almost everyone suffering from any kind of dermatosis first begins to treat himself with the fact that something is 'smeared'. What ointments, creams, lotions and antiseptics can be used for this disease?

First of all, we will list those lotions that a person can buy on their own at a pharmacy, or a doctor can prescribe a prescription for him, and then in a pharmacy, in the production and prescription department, these local remedies will be made to him by prescription. These lotions are not sold in the finished dosage form departments, and therefore price data are not provided here.

Antiseptics and lotions

Rating: 4.9

Lotions and antiseptics used to lubricate damaged skin at various stages of eczema include the following:

1. alcohol solution of brilliant green;
2. one percent tannin solution (dries and knits, at the stage of wetting);
3. an alcohol solution of fucorcin, applied to the area of ​​the rash for one to two weeks;
4. lotions with 0.25% silver nitrate solution;
5. cindol solution;
6. low-borne potassium permanganate solution for baths;
7. 2% boric acid solution,
8. 1% aqueous solution of methylene blue, also applied externally to the area of ​​rashes up to 3 times a day for 1-2 weeks.

With an antiseptic purpose, a solution of Chlorhexidine bigluconate, 0.05%, is used, as well as a solution of Miramistin, which has been repeatedly written about in various reviews, and which can, among other things, be used for eczema to prevent the addition of a secondary infection.

What lotions and ointments should be used when exacerbation subsides? Here, very often Naftalan oil, sulfur, various pastes containing tar are used, for example tar – naphthalan paste. In some cases, drugs from veterinary pharmacies are very popular, for example, Yam-BK ointment containing sulfur, zinc oxide, turpentine, tar, creolin, salicylic acid. Perhaps the biggest disadvantage is that all these products have a strong and unpleasant odor. But on the other hand, they lead to significant improvement, and allow maintaining the stage of stable clinical remission.

Glucocorticoids

Their review is absolutely inevitable, since hormones are one of the main, most powerful anti-inflammatory drugs used topically and bring about significant improvement. However, special care must be taken with hormonal ointments and creams. Only a doctor should prescribe hormonal agents for eczema. At first, it is necessary to prescribe weak hormones, and only if there is no effect and if it is necessary to continue treatment, it is necessary to prescribe stronger hormonal agents. The course of treatment should be as short as possible, and the amount of hormonal agents applied to the skin should be as small as possible.

If these principles are violated, and from the very beginning, the strongest hormonal preparations are applied abundantly to the affected skin, then you will soon find that nothing more, except for this strongest hormonal ointment and cream, helps. After a while, it turns out that this strongest hormonal ointment or cream for some reason does not help as well as before, and it is necessary to smear it more and more often. In the end, the unlucky patient 'bumps into a wall': the strongest hormonal ointments no longer help at all, nothing else helps at all, and at the same time there is a serious exacerbation of eczema that cannot be cured in any way. This is the price of paying for self-activity and the feeling of 'almost complete' recovery against the background of self-administration of strong hormones. So, let's describe in ascending order of activity local glucocorticosteroid drugs for the treatment of eczema.

Weak hormones: hydrocortisone ointment

Rating: 4.8

Hydrocortisone ointment is perhaps the weakest of all hormonal ointments, and many patients will assume that hydrocortisone acetate is no longer helping them. This only means that they have already used hormonal drugs before. For everyone, there is one law: a weaker hormone after a stronger one does not work. A significant break, several months or even years, is needed for the body to react again to weak hormonal drugs.

In addition to eczema, hydrocortisone ointment is indicated for neurodermatitis, psoriasis, contact and allergic dermatitis. You need to apply the ointment no more than 3 times a day, and the course should not exceed 2 weeks, and even in this case, only as directed by a doctor. In order to avoid absorption, that is, resorption and the manifestation of a systemic effect from hormones, you need to avoid long-term applications, dressings overnight over ointment, warming, and so on. Hydrocortisone ointment is produced by a large number of various domestic enterprises, for example, the pharmaceutical company Sintez. This is the cheapest of all hormonal ointments, and a 15 gram tube will cost only 50 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of this ointment will be its low price, low risk of addiction of the body, which is important, after all, it is a weak hormonal drug. And its disadvantage may be an unexpressed and not as significant effect as is expected of it, especially if the person has already been treated with topical hormonal agents. It must also be borne in mind that hydrocortisone ointment, like all other hormonal ointments, will be contraindicated when a secondary infection is attached, if the patient has diabetes mellitus, with intense scratching, which led to the appearance of wounds with eczema. You also need to be very careful when using this ointment in case of pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Moderate strength: Flumethasone (Lorinden), Triamcinolone (Fluorocort), Alklomethasone (Afloderm)

Rating: 4.7

This group has accumulated enough ointments and creams, but, in all honesty, both Lorinden and Ftorocort are still quite old ointments. However, this does not mean at all that they have lost their relevance. Do not forget that in the use of hormonal agents it is necessary to observe a gradual 'switching' to a more modern and powerful group. If hydrocortisone ointment did not help a patient with eczema, then, by the decision of the doctor, he can use a drug, for example Lorinden A, where the hormone flumethasone is combined with salicylic acid. It has a keratoplastic effect in small doses, and keratolytic action in large doses. This facilitates the penetration of the hormone deep into the skin, where it has its effect. Lorinden A is also indicated, in addition to eczema in ichthyosis, diffuse and atopic neurodermatitis, and from eczema, the horny form with symptoms of hyperkeratosis lends itself very well to it. Lorinden A is used for diseases such as lichen planus, photodermatitis, and even insect bites and lupus erythematosus.

It should be used no more than 3 times a day, and after the inflammation has subsided – from 1 to 2 times. In any case, you cannot use Lorinden for longer than 3 weeks. Lorinden A is produced by the Polish company Jelfa, and one package of 15 grams of ointment will cost about 400 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The disadvantage of Lorinden A, like other ointments of this generation, can be considered a certain imbalance, as a result of which itching, dry skin and burning may occur as side effects. With prolonged use, hyperpigmentation, the appearance of spider veins, and an increase in hair growth are also possible. Also, with prolonged application under bandages, systemic reactions characteristic of all glucocorticosteroids are not excluded. Particular care must be taken when applying the drug to the skin of the eyelids, since hormones can provoke the development of glaucoma and cataracts.

Strong hormones: Mometasone (Elokom), methylprednisolone (Advantan)

Rating: 4.6

Both Elokom and Advantan are produced by Schering-Plow, and both of these drugs have high potency and excellent quality. However, Advantan costs almost 7 times more than Elokom. How can this be explained? It's very simple: for Elokom, the power of the representatives of the Schering-Plow company has done a lot of work, and it was included in the list of vital medicines (VNML), Therefore, in 2019, it became possible to purchase a modern powerful hormonal cream at a very, very low price.

On the one hand, this is very cool, but on the other hand, there is an extremely great temptation to buy a strong hormone cream for little money and try it on yourself, especially if the skin is very, very 'itchy' and worries. However, you should show endurance and do not use this strong drug on your own. It should only be prescribed by a doctor. You need to use Elokom only once a day; you should not apply it two or three times. The duration of the course is determined by the effectiveness, but it is still necessary that the course be as short as possible. As soon as the patient feels better, Elokom must be canceled, and it is advisable to apply the cream no more than 3-5 days.

Advantages and disadvantages

Despite its high efficiency, this hormone can cause burning, itching and skin atrophy. In some cases, rosacea appears. Also, sometimes Elokom causes skin irritation, a decrease in pigmentation, and stretch marks appear. If you use Elokom for a long time, under an occlusive dressing, then the frequency of such side effects increases significantly. Of course, the combination of low, even very low prices and excellent European quality makes this drug one of the market leaders for local hormonal products in Russia.

Superstrong: Clobetasone (Dermovate)

Rating: 4.5

For 2019, Dermovate containing clobetasone is the strongest topical hormone. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to use it independently, without a doctor's prescription. All other descriptions for hormonal ointments and creams said the same thing, but here the situation is really exceptional. It is the most powerful hormonal drug. And if in the case of hydrocortisone, Lorinden A, it was possible to make some exceptions, and even for Elokom, then there will be no way back. If you used Dermovate on your own without testimony for 3-5 days, then big problems may await you further. It is prescribed in case of severe disorders that are resistant to other types of treatment. This is 'heavy artillery', in the world of hormonal drugs comparable to tactical nuclear weapons. The attitude towards Dermovate should be the same as towards nuclear weapons: they exist, but they cannot be used just like that. There are extreme conditions for this.

In all other respects, the indications for the drug are exactly the same, but it must be applied once or twice a day, always under the supervision of a doctor before the onset of improvement, in the shortest possible course and in the smallest possible amount, without applying it to clean skin. Dermovate is produced by GlaxoSmithKline, and a small tube costs about 490 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

All the advantages of Dermavovate have long been discussed: it is the most powerful, fastest helping hormone cream, its cost corresponds to its quality, and its disadvantage is, perhaps, free and over-the-counter leave. If it were sold by prescription, there would be far fewer cases of hormone-resistant skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, since the hormones would not be self-medicated.

In the case of a severe course of eczema, with damage to large areas of the skin, with a pronounced decrease in the quality of life and with the possibility of disability of the patient, hormonal preparations are used, including intramuscularly, or in the form of tablets. In the first case, it is betamethasone dipropionate, in the second case, it is prednisolone, which is prescribed in tablets at a dosage of up to 30 milligrams with a gradual dose reduction. In some cases, dermatologists use Dexamethasone, but systemic hormone therapy requires a lot of knowledge and is always risky.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.