Betnovate-N cream/ointment

Health and Nutrition > Medicines > B



How does it work?

This medicine contains two active ingredients, betamethasone valerate and neomycin sulphate. Betamethasone is a type of medicine called a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are medicines used for reducing inflammation. Inflammation of the skin happens due to the irritation of the skin, and is caused by the release of various substances that are important in the immune system. These substances cause blood vessels to widen, resulting in the irritated area becoming red, swollen, itchy and painful. When betamethasone is applied to the skin it works by acting inside the skin cells to decrease the release of these inflammatory substances. This reduces swelling, redness and itch. Betamethasone is a potent corticosteroid that is applied to the skin to treat a wide variety of inflammatory skin diseases, such as eczema. Neomycin sulphate is an antibiotic of the aminoglycoside type. It works by entering bacterial cells and interfering with the production of proteins that the bacteria need to divide and multiply. This rapidly kills the bacteria. Neomycin is included in this preparation to kill the bacteria that sometimes infect inflammatory skin diseases. The active ingredients are also formulated in a moisturising base, which provides a layer of oil on the surface of the skin, helping to prevent water from evaporating from the skin surface. This reduces the dryness, scaling and itching of skin conditions such as eczema. The combination of betamethasone and neomycin is used to treat inflammatory skin disorders, such as those listed below, which are either already infected with bacteria, or the doctor thinks are likely to become infected.

What is it used for?

- An eruption of hard nodules in the skin accompanied by intense itching (prurigo nodularis)
- Area of thickened itchy skin caused by rubbing and scratching (lichen simplex)
- Eczema
- Infected insect bites
- Inflammation of the skin around the genitals or anus, caused by skin surfaces rubbing together (genital or perianal intertrigo)
- Inflammation or irritation of the skin caused by a reaction to irritants (contact dermatitis)
- Inflammatory skin condition with greasy, red and scaly areas (seborrhoeic dermatitis)
- Psoriasis
- Skin disorder causing a flat, itchy, violet rash, usually on the wrists, shins, lower back and genitals (lichen planus)
- Thickened skin rash caused by excessive scratching to relieve itching (neurodermatitis)

Warning!

- If corticosteroids are used long-term, on large areas of skin, raw skin, skin folds, or under airtight dressings (including nappies) they are absorbed into the body more. This increases the risk of local side effects such as skin thinning, and those on other parts of the body, such as a decrease in the production of natural hormones by the adrenal glands.

For this reason, continuous, long-term use of this medicine should be avoided wherever possible, particularly in children and on large areas of skin. You should only use airtight dressings over the affected area if instructed by your doctor.
- This preparation is for external use only.
- If you have been prescribed this medicine to treat psoriasis you should have regular check-ups with your doctor. This is because although corticosteroids may be useful for psoriasis in the short-term, they can sometimes make psoriasis worse, and may cause the condition to relapse into generalised pustular psoriasis after the treatment is stopped.
- Avoid contact of this medicine with the eyes and the moist membranes lining the inside of certain parts of the body, eg mouth, nasal passages (mucous membranes). Rinse with cold water if accidental contact occurs.
- This medicine should not be used for longer than five days on the face or in children.
- If your doctor has advised you to use dressings with this medicine, the skin should be cleansed before a fresh dressing is applied.
- If this medicine is to be used on the face or in children, you should not use airtight dressings (including nappies) to cover the area treated, as this may increase the absorption of the medicine into the body, increasing the risk of adverse effects.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after applying this medicine, unless the hands are the area being treated.
- Do not use this medicine for longer than instructed by your doctor, or for recurrent infections, as this may cause the skin to become over-sensitive or allergic to the medicine.
- Consult your doctor if any infection spreads, or if after seven days of treatment with this medicine there is little or no improvement in your symptoms, as you may need to stop using this medicine or take a course of antibiotics by mouth.
- Do not dilute this preparation with moisturisers or anything else.

Use with caution in

.

- Children
- Decreased kidney function
- Elderly people
- Psoriasis

Not to be used in

- Acne vulgaris
- Bacterial, viral or fungal skin infection that is not secondary to another disease state (primary skin infections, eg impetigo, chickenpox, ringworm)
- Children under 2 years of age
- Chronic inflammatory disorder of the facial skin (acne rosacea)
- Inflammatory rash around the mouth (perioral dermatitis)
- Itching around the back passage and genitals
- Otitis externa in people with a perforated eardrum
- Skin disorders infected with certain types of bacteria (pseudomonas or proteus species)
- Skin infection with yeasts
- Widespread plaque psoriasis

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

- The safety of this medicine during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established. It is not recommended for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Consult your doctor for further advice.

Label warnings

- This medication is to be spread thinly and sparingly on the skin.

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