What are the common combined uses and indications for Calamine lotion?😕😕😕

Calamine lotion is a common skin medication. It is used to treat acute itchy skin conditions such as hives and prickly heat. While it is effective alone, it can also be used in combination with other medications to achieve varying therapeutic effects. The following will describe the efficacy and characteristics of calamine lotion, combined medication regimen and precautions.

1. Calamine lotion + nystatin

Pharmacology of combined medication: Calamine lotion combined with nystatin can fully exert the anti-inflammatory, astringent and antipruritic effects of calamine on perianal eczema. It can reduce tissue redness, swelling and exudate. It can also protect the local skin. Nystatin can effectively inhibit the growth and reproduction of fungi. The combination of the two is effective in treating perianal eczema.

Instructions for use: Grind 6 nystatin tablets (dosage is 500,000 units/tablet) into powder and add them to 100 ml of calamine lotion. Shake well before use. Dip a cotton swab in the medicine and apply it gently and evenly to the affected area. After applying the medication, keep the patient's buttocks exposed as much as possible. Apply 4-6 times daily. Before applying the medicine, remove any remaining medicine on the skin and then apply the medicine. Keep the patient in the side-lying position to avoid local pressure.

2. Calamine lotion + clindamycin

Pharmacology of combined medication: Calamine lotion has astringent properties and neutralizes acidic skin secretions. Clindamycin has strong effects against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, it is equally sensitive to non-spore-forming bacteria among anaerobic bacteria. Clindamycin powder is readily soluble in water and has some efficacy in treating acne vulgaris when mixed with calamine lotion and applied topically.

Instructions for use: Add an appropriate amount of clindamycin powder to every 100ml of calamine lotion and mix well before applying topically. Apply topically six to eight times daily for a seven-day course of treatment, generally requiring two to three courses. If the patient does not improve after three courses, discontinue use immediately and seek alternative treatment options.

3. Calamine lotion + prednisone acetate

Pharmacology of combined medication: Calamine has astringent and antipruritic properties. It is effective in treating skin oozing, rashes and itching, etc. Prednisone acetate has anti-infective, anti-allergic, and immunosuppressive properties. Adding prednisone acetate to calamine lotion can enhance the anti-allergic effect and quickly relieve skin allergy symptoms. The combined use of the two drugs can have a certain effect on children's rash, skin flushing, blisters and other symptoms caused by allergies to dressings or adhesive tapes.

Instructions for use: Dissolve 50mg of prednisone acetate completely in 1000ml of calamine lotion and apply it externally once every 6 hours. Use normal saline to remove residual medicine on the child before each application.

4. Calamine lotion + Hydrocortisone butyrate cream

Pharmacology of combined medication: Hydrocortisone butyrate cream binds strongly to steroid receptors. However, its systemic effects are weak. Combining it with calamine lotion can effectively enhance its astringent, anti-inflammatory, and antipruritic properties. This combination is particularly effective in treating infantile eczema. However, infants have a thin skin barrier and high permeability, so corticosteroids can easily penetrate into the body. Therefore, topical medications containing hydrocortisone butyrate are not recommended for long-term use in infants. If the patient experiences poor efficacy after using the drug for three days, the drug should be discontinued immediately. In addition, the combined use of calamine lotion and hydrocortisone butyrate cream for exudative rashes is contraindicated.

Instructions for use: First, apply an appropriate amount of hydrocortisone butyrate cream to the affected area and gently massage for a while. Use once in the morning and evening for five days before discontinuing. Discontinue hydrocortisone butyrate cream and then use calamine lotion. Shake the lotion well and apply to the affected area twice a day, allowing it to dry naturally.

5. Calamine lotion + Loratadine

Pharmacology of combined medication: Calamine lotion was applied to cover the local mucous membranes of the buttocks lesions. It effectively promotes the regeneration of the buttocks mucosal tissue, restoring and maintaining the physiological barrier function of the mucosa. It promotes healing of mucous membranes and accelerates scab formation on the skin. It also has excellent anti-inflammatory and antipruritic properties. Calamine lotion combined with loratadine has a stronger anti-allergic effect. It can effectively relieve the discomfort caused by diaper rash in children.

Instructions for use: Grind three loratadine tablets into a powder and mix thoroughly with calamine lotion. Use a sterile cotton swab to evenly apply the mixture to the affected area from the inside out. Apply once with each diaper change.

6. Calamine lotion + Zinc oxide ointment

Pharmacology of combined medication: Zinc oxide has protective, astringent, and antiseptic properties on wounds. Calamine lotion also has protective, antipruritic, antiseptic, and astringent properties. The combined of these two drugs can enhance wound protection and antibacterial effects. It can also accelerate the improvement of diaper rash.

Instructions for use: Apply zinc oxide ointment evenly to the affected area on the buttocks three times daily, washing the skin after two hours. After changing the diaper, apply calamine lotion three times daily for a seven-day course of treatment.

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How to choose external medicine for skin disease?🙌🙌🙌

Whenever the seasons change, many people will have some skin problems
(such as skin allergies, eczema, tinea manuum, tinea pedis, etc.). There are many different types of ointments available at community pharmacies for skin inflammation. Many patients don't know what are the uses and differences of these ointments? This article will introduce the relevant knowledge of topical ointments commonly found in community pharmacies.

What are the common skin diseases?

1. Infectious skin diseases:

Infectious skin diseases: When patients are infected by fungi and suffer from skin diseases, then patients should choose ointments containing antifungal drug ingredients. Econazole, ketoconazole, and miconazole are commonly used antifungal ingredients in ointments. If the patient has pustules on the skin, it is likely due to a bacterial infection. Therefore, patients should choose ointments containing antibacterial ingredients, such as mupirocin ointment, chlortetracycline ointment and erythromycin ointment.

2. Allergic skin diseases:

The vast majority of dermatitis and eczema are allergic skin diseases. This type of skin disorder generally responds well to steroid therapy. Weak- or moderate-acting steroid creams are used on areas of tender or wrinkled skin such as the face, armpits, groin or vulva. Strong-acting steroid creams can be used to treat areas of thicker skin, but stronger steroid creams are usually only used for about a week. When the patient's symptoms improve, they are switched to a weaker steroid cream. Because of the thin skin in babies and children, they usually only get weak steroid creams and they should not be used for too long.

An introduction of the strength of steroid creams for topical use.

Weak-acting steroid creams:

Hydrocortisone Acetate 1.0%: Apply to the affected area 2 to 4 times a day and massage gently for a while. It can be used to treat non-infectious skin diseases, allergic skin diseases and some proliferative skin diseases, such as eczema, pruritus, dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, neurodermatitis. Long-term use can cause pigmentation, telangiectasia, skin atrophy and secondary infection. Occasionally, patients have allergic reactions. It is contraindicated in infectious skin diseases such as tinea corporis, jock itch, impetigo, etc.

Medium-acting steroid ointment:

Prednisolone Acetate 0.5%: Apply an appropriate amount of ointment to the affected area 2 to 3 times a day. It is suitable for allergic eczema, lichenoid pruritus, seborrheic dermatitis and contact dermatitis, etc. Long-term use can cause pigmentation, telangiectasia, skin atrophy and secondary infection. Occasionally, patients have allergic reactions. It is contraindicated in infectious skin diseases. 

Dexamethasone acetate 0.05%: It is mainly used for autoimmune inflammatory diseases and allergic diseases, such as chronic eczema, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, neurodermatitis, localized pruritus, etc. Patients generally take a small amount of ointment and apply it to the affected area two to three times a day and rub it gently for a while.

Clobetasone Butyrate 0.05%: It is used for short-term control and treatment of dermatitis and eczema, such as allergic dermatitis, primary irritant dermatitis, atopic eczema, etc. Children over 12 years old or adults can apply an appropriate amount of the ointment to the affected area twice a day. It can be used for up to seven days.

Triamcinolone acetonide 0.025 to 0.1%: It can be used in the treatment of eczema, pruritus, seborrheic dermatitis, allergic dermatitis, neurodermatitis. Apply to the affected area 2 to 3 times a day and massage gently for a while.

Hydrocortisone Butyrate 1.0%: It can be used to treat lichenoid pruritus, seborrheic dermatitis, allergic dermatitis, allergic eczema, etc. Apply an appropriate amount of ointment to the affected area twice a day.

Fludrocortisone acetate 0.025%: It is mainly used to treat skin pruritus, eczema, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, neurodermatitis, allergic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and other skin diseases. Apply ointment topically to affected area twice daily. Long-term use may cause acne, folliculitis, perioral dermatitis, telangiectasia, skin atrophy, and possibly increased susceptibility to infection. Occasionally, patients develop allergic contact dermatitis.

Fluocinolone 0.01%: It can be used to treat psoriasis, pruritus, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, neurodermatitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, etc. Apply to affected areas twice daily. Infants or children should not be given medication for too long and the amount of medication should be kept to a minimum. Long-term or large-scale use of ointment by patients can cause telangiectasia, perioral dermatitis, and skin atrophy. Patients may also have increased skin susceptibility to infection. Occasionally, patients develop reactive contact dermatitis.

Strong-acting steroid ointment:

Beclomethasone Dipropionate 0.025%: It treats inflammatory and allergic skin diseases and related conditions, including pruritus, discoid lupus erythematosus, lichen planus, psoriasis, palmar impetigo, eczema, neurodermatitis, allergies Dermatitis, contact dermatitis, etc. Apply topically to affected area two to three times daily. It should be used with caution in infants.

Mometasone furoate 0.1%: It is indicated for the treatment of pruritus, neurodermatitis, atopic dermatitis and eczema. Apply an appropriate amount of ointment to the affected area once a day.

Fluocinolone 0.025%: In addition to the above-mentioned dermatitis, it can also be used for vitiligo, psoriasis, etc. It is generally used 2 to 3 times a day.

Betamethasone 0.05%: It is indicated for the relief of itching and inflammation in children 13 years and older and adults with hormone-sensitive skin disorders. However, it is contraindicated in children 12 years and younger.

Super strong-acting steroid ointment:

Clobetasol Propionate 0.02 to 0.05%: It can be used to treat discoid lupus erythematosus, palmar impetigo, lichen planus, psoriasis, chronic eczema, neurodermatitis and other skin diseases for which topical steroid therapy is effective. It cannot be used for long-term, large-area applications.

Betamethasone 0.1%: Apply to the affected area two to four times a day and massage gently for a while.

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