Desowen is the brand name of a topical anti-inflammatory medication known as Desonide.
Desonide is a synthetic corticosteroid (a class of hormones made to mimic the effects of the corticosteroids produced by the body) that helps to treat several diseases that affect the skin.
Each gram of the Desowen medications contains 0.05% of Desonide, while the rest of the ingredients will vary depending on the form of the medicine.
Experts don’t entirely understand the anti-inflammatory mechanism of corticosteroids like Desonide.
Some theorize that this type of hormones stimulate lipocortins, a group of proteins that several experts believe it inhibits the process of inflammation.
Researchers think that lipocortins regulate the release of arachidonic acids that control the biosynthesis of inflammatory mediators. By stimulating these proteins, Desonide would reduce inflammation.
It’s usually available as Desowen, and it comes in the form of cream, lotions, and ointments.
Uses
Desowen is a medicine that can only get applied to the skin of the patients.
Healthcare providers typically use the Desowen medication to treat the inflammation, redness, and itching caused by skin conditions and some allergic reactions.
This medicine helps to control Eczema, which is a highly common skin disease that consists of itchy blisters that appear in several areas of the body.
While Desowen doesn’t cure eczema, it can still alleviate the symptoms of the disease and prevent the patients’ condition from getting worst.
Some doctors use Desowen to treat cases of Psoriasis, a disease that features reddish and scaly patches in the skin.
Medical experts also like to use this medication to deal with rashes, and, in some cases, treat patients with Seborrheic Dermatitis.
In fact, some studies show significant improvements in the condition of patients with such diseases when doctors put them on a therapy based on the use of Desowen.
Some suggest that this medication helps to combat or control a wide variety of skin infections.
People can use Desonide to deal with the redness caused by Rosacea, a chronic skin disease that usually affects the face.
Doctors also recommend using Desowen to treat symptoms associated with some skin allergies, such as adverse reactions to metals like nickel and gold, or aromatic substances like the Balsam of Peru.
Desowen Indications
People should apply Desowen (cream or ointment) to the affected areas of the skin two or three times per day depending on the severity of the patient’s condition.
Doctor recommend stopping the treatment as soon as the disease gets under control. But, if the patients show no significant improvement, then the healthcare providers will reassess the diagnosis.
Warnings
People should discuss with their doctors any potential allergy to corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone and prednisone.
Patients who had an adverse reaction to such medications may display oversensitivity to other synthetic corticosteroids like Desonide.
Another factor that people should consider before using this product is the fact that the different available forms of Desowen contain several inactive ingredients that, in some cases, may cause an allergic response.
Doctors will likely consult the patients’ medical history, before deciding to treat them with Desonide, to look for signs of poor blood circulation, diabetes, and issues with the immune system.
By the times this article got written, researchers had made no study on the possible effects of Desowen on pregnant or nursing mothers.
In fact, medical experts are not sure if this medication passes into breast milk.
Still, as a safety measure, pregnant or nursing mothers should avoid this medication and consult with their doctors about the use of Desowen if there’s no other choice left.
Patients who are undergoing a treatment based on Desonide must talk to their doctors before breastfeeding their babies.
Desowen Side-Effects
In some cases, patients may display some mild adverse reactions to the use of Desowen. The most typical side-effects are listed here below:
- Stinging
- Burning
- Irritation
- Dryness
However, as people stick to the treatment, most of these side-effects will disappear on their own when their bodies adjust to the medication.
Still, in some odd cases, patients may show some severe responses to Desonide. If they appear, people must contact their doctors as soon as possible. The most severe side-effects are the following:
- Stretch marks
- Skin thinning/discoloration
- Acne
- Excessive hair growth
- Folliculitis
Patients must seek immediate medical attention if the symptoms of their skin condition such as redness, swelling, or irritation become worst when using this medication.