Review Of The Best Ointments And Creams For Allergies In Children

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Review of the best ointments and creams for allergies in children

In the modern industrialized world, even the body of adults does not always cope with the attack of numerous allergens, what can we say about children? In the personal medical record of each child, on the very first page there is a column for information about allergies, and few people have it empty.

Every day, children are faced with adverse environmental factors:

• Industrial emissions in the atmosphere;
• Clothing made of artificial fibers, dyed with harmful dyes;
• Food full of chemical additives - preservatives, leavening agents, emulsifiers and others;
• Vegetables, fruits and meat products, in the production and cultivation of which antibiotics and pesticides were involved;
• Personal hygiene products, cosmetics and household chemicals, the composition of which is far from environmentally friendly.

The child's body cannot resist allergens for a long time, especially if there are a lot of them, and the negative effect is long-lasting. The most common reaction is skin, it is hives or rashes that are the main symptom of allergies in children. If this happens, it is necessary to identify the allergen and eliminate it from the child's everyday life, as well as temporarily adjust the diet so that spicy, irritating food does not provoke new allergic reactions.

Sometimes difficulties arise with determining the exact cause of the disease: refusal to contact with dust, animal hair, pollen, citrus fruits and other known allergens does not give any effect. Then the child must be shown to an allergist who will conduct special skin tests and determine the "culprit" of the allergy.

The treatment of allergic skin rashes in children should be approached very carefully, because not all creams and ointments for allergies are allowed for use in children. As paradoxical as it may sound, sometimes even allergy medications cause allergies. In addition, there are ointments and creams that are, in principle, contraindicated for children because of their active ingredients.

Allergy creams and ointments are divided into two large groups:

• Hormonal;
• Non-hormonal.

Content:

• Non-hormonal creams and ointments for allergies in children
• Creams and ointments for the treatment of severe dermatitis in children
• Children's ointments and creams with healing and regenerating effects
• Hormonal ointments for allergies in children
• How to protect your child from allergies?

Non-hormonal creams and ointments for allergies in children

It is non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs that are most preferably used for the treatment of allergic dermatitis and urticaria in children. Most of the creams and ointments of this group are harmless, and are approved for use from birth or from the age of two.

Fenistil - gel

• Active ingredient: dimethindene maleate
• Price range: 200-250 rubles
• Indications: itching with sunburn and insect bites, eczema, urticaria, allergic dermatitis
• Side effects: very rarely - increased itching, rash, burning, swelling and dry skin
• Special instructions: cannot be used to treat babies under the age of one month. In children under six years of age, use with caution, do not lubricate more than one third of the body surface, do not apply to strongly combed, bleeding areas, do not leave the child in open sunlight after applying the gel.

Gistan

• Active ingredients: dimethicone, betulin, lily of the valley oil, extracts of lupine, birch buds, milkweed, string, Veronica spicata, calendula and violet.
• Price range: 120-180 rubles
• Indications: urticaria, blistering rash, itching after insect bites, eczema, neurodermatitis, atopic dermatitis

• Side effects: individual allergic reactions in case of intolerance to the components of the ointment
• Special instructions: Gistan cream is sometimes confused with Gistan N ointment, which contains corticosteroid hormones and is contraindicated in children.

Skin-Cap

• Active ingredient: pyrithione (activated zinc)
• Price range: 600-700 rubles
• Indications: seborrhea, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, dry and peeling skin, itching as a result of insect bites or fungal skin lesions
• Side effects: very rarely - local allergic reactions
• Special instructions: there is unverified information that this cream contains clobetasol propionate, a synthetic corticosteroid, therefore, it cannot be recommended for children. But Skin-Cap is very effective, and there is no mention of hormones in the official annotation, so the decision is yours.

Creams and ointments for the treatment of severe dermatitis in children

Elidel cream

• Active substance: pimecrolimus
• Price range: 900-1000 rubles
• Indications: eczema, atopic dermatitis
• Side effects: possible redness, swelling, burning and itching at the site of application of the cream, especially at the beginning of treatment. Folliculitis and skin hyperpigmentation reactions rarely occur.

• Special instructions: cannot be used to treat babies under the age of three months. It is not recommended to expose treated skin to ultraviolet radiation. There is a hypothesis that long-term use of Elidel cream reduces local immunity and leads to the development of cancer - lymphoma and melanoma. The drug is relatively new, and its effect on the body is not fully understood, but in the treatment of dermatitis in children, Elidel demonstrates very high efficiency.

Desitin

• Active ingredients: zinc oxide, petroleum jelly, lanolin, cod liver oil
• Price range: 150-250 rubles
• Indications: prickly heat, diaper rash and maceration of the skin in infants, sunburn, eczema, atopic dermatitis, blister eruptions and weeping sores
• Side effects: not registered
• Special instructions: the ointment should not be applied to infected, festering areas of the skin, first you must heal the inflammation with an antibiotic

Protopicus

• Active substance: tacrolimus
• Price range: 1500-1600 rubles
• Indication: atopic dermatitis
• Side effects: not registered
• Special instructions: the treatment of dermatitis in children is carried out only from the age of two and only Protopic ointment with a 0.03% content of the active substance. The drug is very effective in severe dermatitis, has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, and, unlike hormonal ointments, even with prolonged use does not cause epidermal atrophy.

Wundehil cream

• Active ingredients: cardophilen, propolis, sophora, extracts of cinquefoil goose and yarrow
• Price range: 120-150 rubles
• Indications: sunburn, psoriasis, allergic dermatitis, neurodermatitis, trophic ulcers
• Side effects: possible allergic reactions to bee products
• Special instructions: the recommended duration of treatment for allergic dermatitis in children is at least one week, but not more than one month.

Children's ointments and creams with healing and regenerating effects

If an allergic rash on the child's skin becomes infected due to scratching, it is necessary to start treatment with antibiotic therapy. Ointments such as Sulfargin or Dioxidin, as well as old, time-tested drugs, zinc or ichthyol ointment, will help to cope with microbes.

When the acute symptoms of inflammation are removed and the allergic rash has almost disappeared, the effect can be strengthened with creams that accelerate cellular regeneration of the skin. Solcoseryl and Actovegin, preparations based on calf blood, have proven themselves well.

Radevit, Videstim, Curiosin and methyluracil ointment will also help to increase local immunity and accelerate skin healing. And below you will find information on regenerating creams that give the best effect in the final treatment of allergic rashes in children.

Bepanten

• Active substance: dexpanthenol
• Price range: 250-270 rubles
• Indications: diaper dermatitis, dryness and peeling of the skin with allergic dermatitis and eczema, irritation from rough clothes, cracking from frost
• Side effects: very rarely - itching and hives
• Special instructions: there are several analogs of Bepanten, created on the basis of the same active ingredient: D-panthenol, Bepanten Plus. All of these creams are great for treating allergies and skin irritations in children.

La Cree

• Active ingredients: panthenol, bisabolol, avocado and walnut oil, string and licorice extracts
• Price range: 150-170 rubles
• Indications: irritation and peeling of the skin of any etiology, allergic dermatitis, urticaria, itching from insect bites
• Side effects: individual allergic reactions in case of intolerance to herbal ingredients
• Special instructions: La Cree cream is more of a good moisturizing baby cream than a serious medicine. It will not cure severe dermatitis, but it will cope perfectly with minor skin irritation.

Mustela Stelatopia

• Active ingredient: bioceramides, fatty acids, sugars, procholesterol, sunflower oil
• Price range: 1000-1200 rubles
• Indication: care for baby skin prone to diaper rash and atopic dermatitis
• Side effects: not registered
• Special instructions: Mustella Stelatopia is a gentle emulsion specially formulated for the care of the skin of babies from birth to one year old. It is not a medicinal ointment, but rather a prophylactic agent that prevents the appearance of diaper rash and dermatitis.

Hormonal ointments for allergies in children

Sometimes even long-term treatment of allergies with non-hormonal ointments does not lead to success. Only in this case, you can think about the appointment of hormonal drugs, because they are extremely undesirable for a fragile child's body. Synthetic glucocorticoids quickly and effectively relieve inflammation in atopic dermatitis and eczema, since they interrupt the very chain of chemical reactions that leads to the development of the inflammatory process on the skin. But hormonal ointments with prolonged use can cause disruptions in the adrenal glands or even cause Cushing's syndrome in a child.

The most undesirable are those hormonal ointments, which are well absorbed through the skin and enter the bloodstream, creating dangerous concentrations of hormones there. These drugs suppress the child's immunity and make his body defenseless against possible threats. Removing acute symptoms now, corticosteroids lead to undesirable consequences in the future, so they should be prescribed only in severe forms of dermatitis, when the child's skin, as they say, has no living space. It is also important to complete hormonal treatment correctly: the medicinal ointment is gradually canceled, mixing it with baby cream and applying smaller and smaller doses until the body weaned, otherwise a painful withdrawal reaction may occur.

Elokom

• Active ingredient: synthetic glucocorticosteroid
• Price range: 350-380 rubles
• Indications: allergic dermatoses
• Side effects: contact dermatitis, prickly heat, itching, dryness, burning, rarely - the development of perioral dermatitis
• Special instructions: the ointment can be used to treat allergies only in children over six months of age, and only as directed by a doctor. Do not use Elokom on skin areas exceeding an eighth of the body surface. Treatment is carried out in courses not longer than one week in a row, with a gradual withdrawal of the drug by mixing with baby cream.

Advantan

• Active substance: methylprednisolone
• Price range: 330-350 rubles
• Indications: contact and atopic dermatitis, eczema, neurodermatitis, allergic dermatoses
• Side effects: redness, itching, rash, burning, swelling of the skin
• Special instructions: the ointment can be used to treat allergic rashes in children over four months old, exclusively as directed by a doctor. Long-term use of Advantan causes atrophy of the upper layer of the epidermis.

Parents need to know which hormonal ointments and creams for allergies are categorically contraindicated for children, which are undesirable, and which are allowed for use:

• Do not use - Hydrocortisone ointment and any other hydrocortisone-based ointments: Fluorocort, Fucidin, Oxycort, Cortef, Dactacort, Lokoid, Sulfodecortem, Hyoxysone, Sibicort, Corteid, Laticort, Kenacort, Pollacort, Sopolcort, Bermortenalog, Trifolcort, Betamethasone;
• Use is undesirable - Lorinden, Ultralan, Flucinar, Lokasalen, Sinalar, Lokakorten, Sinaflan, Flucort, Flunolon, Celestoderm, Daivobet, Diprogent, Belogent, Flosteron, Betazone, Celeston, Akriderm, Vipsogalte, Dypsikali, Dukikorten, Triderm, Betasalin, Mometasone;
• Can be used as directed by a doctor - Elokom, Silkaren, Gistan N, Uniderm, Avecort, Momederm, Advantan, Powercourt, Momat, Dermovate, Cloveit, Monovo, Clobetasol, Skin-Cap, Skinlight.

How to protect your child from allergies?

Regardless of whether your child has an allergy or not, you should try to minimize the presence of potential allergens in his everyday life, because the dosage and duration are decisive in the development of allergies.

A few simple measures will help you insure your children against allergic reactions and serious illnesses, which can later become commonplace dermatitis (bronchial asthma, psoriasis):

• When buying household chemicals, shampoos, shower gels and other cosmetics, pay attention to their composition. If on the label you see names such as propylene glycol, methyl acrylate, sodium laureth sulfate, formaldehyde - you should know that it is better to choose another remedy;
• Do not wash your child's clothes with the same powder you wash yours. Regular washing powder contains up to 40% surfactants, while for children's skin the maximum permissible concentration is 5% surfactants;
• Going to the supermarket for groceries, do not rush to dump your familiar products into the basket, read first what is written on bright jars, bags and bottles. If you can choose from two yoghurts one that does not contain artificial flavors and colors, do so. And instead of carbonated drinks with sodium benzoate, use natural juice or milkshake;
• Exercise caution when introducing new foods and exotic foods into the diet of a child prone to allergic reactions. Children are often allergic to rare types of nuts, outlandish seafood and overseas fruits, so let the child try a spoonful of a new treat, and the next day, if there are no negative reactions, you can offer him more.

The author of the article: Sokolova Praskovya Fedorovna | Pediatrician

Education: Diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received at the Volgograd State Medical University. A specialist certificate was immediately received in 2014.