Epidermolysis Bullosa
Home Care Programme

Materials & Medication

Specification of Ointments & Creams

Several products have already been mentioned. Here, the composition, properties and use of the ointments and creams are discussed. Before use, always study the medication information included first.

Bactroban® Ointment (SmithKline Beecham Farma)

Composition: It is a hydrophillic ointment with mupirocin as active ingredient. Vehicle of cetomacrogol cream.

Property: Antimicrobial ointment with a narrow range of effect that includes Gram-positive micro-organisms (especially staphylococci). Gram-negative micro-organisms are generally not sensitive.

Administration: Apply two to three times a day in a thin layer to the affected skin. Alternatively cover with a sterile dressing. Treatment with Bactroban® should not exceed 10 days.

Warning: Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.

Calendula® Cream

Composition: An alcoholic solution containing volatile oil from marigold extracts.

Property: Has a soothing and hydrating effect.

Administration: Apply to skin a couple of times a day.

Cetomacrogol Ointment FNA (Unguentum cetomacrogolis FNA)

Composition: The cream is hydrophillic, the ointment can be washed off with water. Is used in the indifferent treatment of skin conditions. Ingredients include cetomacrogol wax (a mixture of cetostearylalcohol and cetomacrogol).

Property: The ointment has a protective effect. The cream not only protects but also soothes the affected skin.

Administration: Apply once to twice a day in a thin layer to the skin.

Chlorhexidine Cream 1% FNA (Cremor chlorhexidini FNA)

Composition: Hydrophillic cream with chlorhexidine gluconate 10 mg/g as active ingredient. Vehicle of cetomacrogol cream.

Property: A cream with strong bactericide and fungicide effect against virtually all Gram-positive and Gram-negative micro-organisms.

Administration: May be used for disinfection of skin and wounds. Apply once to twice a day in a thin layer.

Composition: This is a easy spreadable hydrophobic cream consisting of Eucerinum® anhydricum in water.

Property: Protecting and hydrating effect.

Administration: The cream can be preserved in large pots in the fridge. The required amount is heated in the morning (for example, in the microwave or in a pan with hot water to facilitate the spreading. After heating the cream must be stirred well with a spatula. Is applied to the skin in a thin layer once a day.

Composition: The active ingredient in the hydrophillic cream is fusidic acid.

Property: Antimicrobial cream/ointment with a narrow range of effects that include Gram-positive micro-organisms (especially staphylococci). Gram-negative micro-organisms are generally not sensitive.

Administration: Apply a thin layer three times a day to the affected skin. Alternatively, cover with a sterile dressing (this may make a less frequent application sufficient). The cream is most suitable for use on moist wounds.

Warning: Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.

Composition: The cream has a vehicle of hydrophillic cetomacrogol cream. The ointment's vehicle consists of vaseline.

Property: Hydrocortisone is a corticosteroid with a mild potency; class 1. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and suppresses the symptoms of several (itching associated) conditions.

Administration: Apply a small amount in thin layers once or twice a day to the skin; after improvement, once a day or twice / three times a week. Alternatively cover ointment with a dry gauze dressing.

In general, no more than 30 - 60 grams of cream or ointment should be used per week.

Warning: Side-effects of corticosteroids occur especially in sensitive thin skin creases on the lower part of the back and the insides of the upper legs. The chance of side-effects increases with the length of treatment, the size of the area treated, the strength of the corticosteroid and in occlusion of skin creases. The side-effects are:

- atrophy of epidermis and dermis; the skin becomes as thin as cigarette paper;

- telelangiectasie;

- striae;

- susceptibility for dermatitis on the face;

- depigmentation.

Composition: It is a hydrophobic cream which makes the skin feel greasy after its application. Ingredients include arachis oil and attar. Is used amongst other reasons for the indifferent treatment of scaling skin conditions.

Property: Cools and protects the skin.

Administration: Apply once to twice a day in a thin layer to the skin. Alternatively cover with dressing.

Composition: The cream is hydrophillic, the ointment cannot be washed off with water. Can be used in the indifferent treatment of skin conditions. Ingredients include Lanette wax.

Property: Soothes and protects the affected skin.

Administration: Apply once to twice a day in a thin layer to the skin.

Composition: The tetracycline cream is a hydrophillic cream in a cetomacrogol cream solution. The tetracycline ointment has a vehicle of vaseline and is yellow in colour.

Property: Antimicrobial cream / ointment with a broad range of effects that include Gram-positive and Gram-negative micro-organisms among which staphylococci and streptococci.

Administration: Apply two to three times a day in a thin layer to the affected skin. Cover with sterile dressing. In principle treatment should not exceed 14 days.

Warning: Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.

Composition: These are hydrophillic creams that are used in the indifferent treatment of skin conditions. They are the more 'greasy' variants (also called grease creams) of the hydrophillic creams. They leave a hardly visible layer and can be washed off with water.

Property: Soothes and protects the skin. These indifferent creams and ointments are also used as a `vehicle cream or ointment'  in which corticosteroids or antimicrobial preparations have been incorporated.

Administration: Apply in a thin layer to skin once or twice a day. The use of dressing material is not required.

Composition: A hydrophobic ointment with zinc oxide in vaseline. The paste consists of zinc oxide, viscous paraffin in vaseline and adheres well to the skin. Used in the indifferent treatment of skin conditions.

Property: Desiccates, covers and cools.

Administration: Apply paste once to twice a day to the skin and cover with waste linen or lint, or put on dressing first and then apply to the skin. Apply ointment once to three times a day in a thin layer to the skin. Cover, alternatively with a dressing. Put the oil on the skin several times a day.

All ointments and creams described are (in principle only by prescription) available. Calendula® cream can also be obtained over-the-counter.