Elocon Alcohol Free Cream 0.1% (Mometasone)

Elocon Alcohol Free Cream general information

What is Elocon Alcohol Free Cream used for?

Elocon Alcohol Free Cream 0.1% is a topical skin cream used to treat several moderate to severe skin and scalp conditions, such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis (a chronic autoimmune skin condition causing red, itchy, scaly patches of skin on the body), lichen planus (an inflammatory skin condition).  Alcohol is often used in topical medications and can cause irritation and dryness, particularly in sensitive skin.  Elocon Alcohol Free Cream 0.1% is suitable for moist skin lesions and helps relieve symptoms such as itching, redness, dryness, crusting, scaling and discomfort, while minimising the risk of skin irritation.  

How does Elocon Alcohol Free Cream work?

Elocon Alcohol Free Cream contains the synthetic corticosteroid mometasone, which is a highly potent anti-inflammatory that is 100-150 times more potent than hydrocortisone.  Mometasone in Elocon Alcohol Free Cream 0.1% works by blocking the enzyme involved in the production of inflammatory chemicals, like prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which are hormone-like substances involved in the inflammatory process.  Mometasone in Elocon Alcohol Free Cream 0.1% also narrows and constricts causes blood vessels that have become dilated (widened) and leaky allowing other inflammatory cells into the skin to escalate the inflammatory response.  This reduces symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions particularly those that do not respond satisfactorily to less active steroids.   

What does Elocon Alcohol Free Cream contain?

Elocon Alcohol Free cream 0.1% contains the active ingredient mometasone furoate (1mg per 1g of cream).  It also contains aluminium starch octenylsuccinate, hexylene glycol, phosphoric acid, soy phosphatidylcholine – hydrogenated, purified water, titanium dioxide, white beeswax, white soft paraffin

Treating dermatitis with Elocon Alcohol Free Cream

Elocon Alcohol Free Cream 1% contains the synthetic corticosteroid mometasone, a highly potent anti-inflammatory that is used as a topical treatment treat several moderate to severe inflammatory skin and scalp conditions.  These include dermatitis and eczema, which is a form of dermatitis, described in general terms as inflammation of the skin and is characterised by dry skin with an itchy red rash that can become weeping and crusting, and causing great discomfort if inflammation persists.  Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis because it is associated with an atopic tendency to develop the three closely linked conditions; hay fever, asthma and atopic eczema.  Skin of people with dermatitis and atopic eczema are usually more sensitive to irritants and outbreaks can be triggered by several factors and be chronic or acute.  Mometasone in Elocon Alcohol Free Cream 0.1% works by blocking the enzyme involved in the production of inflammatory cytokines, like prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which are hormone-like chemicals involved in the inflammatory process.  Mometasone in Elocon Alcohol Free Cream 0.1% also narrows and constricts blood vessels that have become dilated (widened) and leaky allowing other inflammatory cells into the skin to escalate the inflammatory response.  This reduces symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions particularly those that do not respond satisfactorily to less active steroids.  

Elocon Alcohol Free Cream for itchy skin

Itchy skin is a symptom of several inflammatory skin conditions, like dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis (a chronic autoimmune skin condition causing red, itchy, scaly patches of skin on the body) and lichen planus (an inflammatory skin condition), which and can cause the skin to become sore and inflamed.  Elocon Alcohol Free Cream 1% contains mometasone, a highly potent anti-inflammatory corticosteroid that works by blocking the production of hormone-like cytokines called prostaglandin and leukotrienes, which are involved in the inflammatory process.  This reduces symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions such as itching, redness, dryness, crusting, scaling and discomfort, while minimising the risk of skin irritation, particularly those that do not respond satisfactorily to less active steroids.  

What are the side effects of Elocon Alcohol Free Cream?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Elocon Alcohol Free Cream include, burning, itching, tingling and stinging at the site of application, also signs of thinning of the skin and acne.  Long-term use of Elocon Cream may cause the adrenal glands, which produce endogenous (naturally occurring) corticosteroids, to stop working efficiently and this may slow down the growth rate in children.

When should Elocon Alcohol Free Cream not be used?

You should not use Elocon Alcohol Free Cream if you:

• are allergic to mometasone or any ingredients in Elocon Alcohol Free Cream
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding, without discussion with your doctor
• have a viral infection of the skin, tuberculosis, acne rosacea (a chronic skin condition), perioral dermatitis (facial rash around the mouth), fungal skin infections and ulcerative conditions
• have damaged skin
  

How should Elocon Alcohol Free Cream be used?

You should apply a thin film Elocon Alcohol Free Cream to the affected area of skin once daily gently rubbing into the skin.  You should always wash your hands after applying the medication and make sure you don’t get any in your eyes, nose or mouth.  Elocon Alcohol Free Cream is intended for short term use and if used in children or on the face, you should not use for more than 5 days.  You should use Elocon Alcohol Free Cream for as long as recommended by your doctor and depending on your condition; long term continuous use should be avoided as it can cause problems.

How long should you use Elocon Alcohol Free Cream?

You should use Elocon Alcohol Free Cream for as long as recommended by your doctor and depending on your condition; long term continuous use should be avoided as it can cause problems.

Missed dose of Elocon Alcohol Free Cream

If you miss a dose of Elocon Alcohol Free Cream apply it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to apply the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not apply a double dose.

How should Elocon Alcohol Free Cream be stored?

You should store your Elocon Alcohol Free Cream below 25°C in a cool dry place.