Lotriderm Cream

It reduces skin inflammation by stopping skin cells from producing various inflammation-causing chemicals that are normally released when the skin reacts to irritation. These inflammation-causing chemicals include prostaglandins and various other inflammatory substances. They cause blood vessels to widen and other inflammatory substances to arrive, resulting in the affected area of skin becoming red, swollen and itchy. By preventing these inflammatory chemicals from being released in the skin, betamethasone reduces inflammation and relieves its related symptoms such as redness and itchiness.

How do I use Lotriderm?

• Lotriderm cream should be applied thinly and evenly to the affected area(s) of skin twice a day. 
• Wash your hands after applying the cream, unless the hands are the area being treated.
• The cream should be used for two weeks to treat ringworm or candida infections and for four weeks to treat athlete's foot.
• Make sure you keep using the cream for the length of time prescribed by your doctor. If you stop using it too early because the symptoms have cleared up, the infection may come back.
• If you are using Lotriderm cream to treat athlete's foot you should make sure you wash and dry the feet, especially between the toes, before applying the cream. You may also want to use an antifungal powder inside your socks and shoes to help treat the infection and prevent it coming back.
• Do not cover the area being treated with airtight dressings such as bandages or other dressings, as these will enhance the absorption of the medicine into the body and may increase the risk of side effects from the steroid.
• If your skin seems to be getting more irritated, or an infection has not cleared up after the course of treatment has finished, you should consult your doctor.

Lotriderm should be used with caution in

• Children. Lotriderm cream is not licensed for children under 12 years of age.
• Psoriasis. If you have been prescribed this medicine to treat areas of skin affected by 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.

Who should not use Lotriderm?

You should not use Lotriderm cream on areas of skin affected by the following:

• Viral skin infections, such as chickenpox, shingles, cold sores, herpes simplex, warts or verrucas.
• Bacterial skin infections, such as impetigo.
• Acne.
• Chronic inflammatory disorder of the facial skin (acne rosacea).
• Inflammatory rash around the mouth (perioral dermatitis).
• Nappy rash.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to 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.

Can I use Lotriderm while pregnant or 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.

What are the possible side effects of Lotriderm?

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Skin irritation, eg redness, rash, itching, stinging or burning on application, or allergic inflammation of the skin (contact dermatitis). Stop using this medicine and consult your doctor if you think you have experienced a reaction or your skin condition appears to be getting worse.
• Secondary infections.
• Reduced skin pigmentation.
• Stretch marks (striae).
• Thinning of the skin.
• Inflammation of the hair follicles (folliculitis).
• Excessive hair growth (hypertrichosis).

Prolonged use of this medicine on extensive areas of skin, broken or raw skin, skin folds or underneath airtight dressings may on very rare occasions result in enough corticosteroid being absorbed to have side effects on other parts of the body, for example a decrease in the production of natural hormones by the adrenal glands, or symptoms of Cushing's syndrome.

Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you want any more information about the possible side effects of this medicine.

Can I use Lotriderm with other medicines?

• This medicine is not known to affect other medicines.

If you are using other topical medicines on the same area of skin it is recommended that you leave at least 30 minutes between applying each product. This is to allow each product time to be absorbed and avoid them mixing on the skin.

If you apply moisturisers shortly before or after applying this medicine these can dilute the medicine and potentially make it less effective. Try to apply your moisturisers at a different time of day, or at least 30 minutes before or after this one.

References:

https://www.drugs.com/cons/lotriderm-topical.html

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1962/smpc

https://www.medbroadcast.com/drug/getdrug/lotriderm

https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/skin-hair/a7042/lotriderm-cream-betamethasone-clotrimazole/