Cutivate cream/ointment

Health and Nutrition > Medicines > C



How does it work?

This medicine contains the active ingredient fluticasone propionate, which 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 fluticasone 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. Fluticasone is a potent corticosteroid that is applied to the skin to treat a wide variety of inflammatory skin diseases, such as eczema. The active ingredient is formulated in a moisturising base that provides a layer of oil on the surface of the skin, helping to prevent water from evaporating from the skin surface. This helps reduce the dryness, scaling and itching of skin conditions such as eczema.

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
- 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)
- Inflammatory skin disease known as discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE)
- Inflammatory skin disorders
- Intense and widespread reddening of the skin (generalised erythroderma) in combination with oral or injected corticosteroids
- Prickly heat
- Psoriasis
- Reactions to insect bites and stings
- 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!

- Avoid prolonged use on the face.
- 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.
- This medicine should be applied thinly and evenly to the affected area(s).
- 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.
- If your doctor has advised you to use dressings with this medicine, the skin should be cleansed before a fresh dressing is applied.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after applying this medicine, unless the hands are the area being treated.
- Consult your doctor if your skin becomes infected during treatment, as you may need to stop using this medicine and start treatment with antibiotics.
- If this medicine is used to treat a child and there is no response after 7 to 14 days treatment you should consult your doctor. Prolonged use should be avoided in children.

Use with caution in

- Children
- Psoriasis

Not to be used in

- Acne vulgaris
- Broken skin or open wounds
- Children less than 1 year of age
- Chronic inflammatory disorder of the facial skin (acne rosacea)
- Infections of the skin with viruses (eg Herpes simplex, chickenpox), fungi (eg thrush, ringworm, athlete's foot) or bacteria (eg impetigo)
- Inflammatory rash around the mouth (perioral dermatitis)
- Itching around the back passage and genitals
- 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.

- This medicine should not be used during pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor. If it is prescribed by your doctor it should not be used on large areas of skin, underneath airtight dressings, or for prolonged periods of time. Consult your doctor for further information.
- This medicine should not be used during breastfeeding unless considered essential by your doctor. If it is prescribed by your doctor it should not be used on large areas of skin, underneath airtight dressings or for prolonged periods of time. If it is applied to the breasts it should be washed off carefully before breastfeeding and then reapplied afterwards.

Label warnings

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

The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use © Copyright 1998 - 2009 NetDoctor.co.uk - All rights reserved