13. Drugs acting on the skin

This section does not contain extemporaneously prepared dermatological products. Contact Pharmacy for details

Emollient & barrier preparations

Emollients

Aqueous cream

F

Dermalo

F

Diprobase

F

Emulsifying ointment

F
Emulsifying wax, WSP, liquid paraffin

Epaderm

F
Emulsifying wax, YSP, liquid paraffin

E45

F

Hydromol ointment

F
Emulsifying wax, YSP

Oilatum

F

Antiseptic bath oils

Oilatum Plus (contains triclosan. Suitable for patients with MRSA intolerant of Aquasept)

R

Barrier preparations

Drapalene

R Cavilon preferred

Sudocrem

R Cavilon preferred

Topical antipruritics

Calamine lotion

F

Crotamiton (Eurax)

F

Crotamiton HC

F

Topical corticosteroids

Mild

Hydrocortisone 0.5% & 1% cream/ointment

F

Moderately potent

Betamethasone valerate 0.025%
(Betnovate RD)

F

Clobetasone butyrate 0.05%
(Eumovate)

F

Potent

Hydrocortisone butyrate 0.1%
(Locoid)

F

Betamethasone valerate 0.1%
(Betnovate)

F

Very potent

Betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% + salicylic acid 3%
(Diprosalic)

F

Clobetasol propionate 0.05%
(Dermovate)

F

Topical steroids with antimicrobials

Mild

Hydrocortisone & clioquinol
(Vioform-hydrocortisone)

F

Hydrocortisone & fusidic acid 1%
(Fucidin HC)

F

Potent

Betamethasone valerate + clioquinol
(Betnovate C)

F

Topical steroids with antifungals

Hydrocortisone & clotrimazole
(Canesten HC)

F

Hydrocortisone & miconazole
(Daktacort)

F

Topical steroids with antimicrobials & antifungals

Moderately potent

Clobetasone butyrate, oxytetracycline, nystatin
(Trimovate)

F

Very potent

Clobetasol propionate, neomycin, nystatin
(Dermovate NN)

F

Scalp preparations for eczema & psoriasis

Shampoos

Ketoconazole 2%
(Nizoral)

F

Polytar liquid

F

Topical steroids

Betnovate scalp application

F

Diprosalic scalp application

F

Preparations for psoriasis

Coal tar based

5% coal tar extract (Alphosyl),
with hydrocortisone 0.5% (Alphosyl HC)

F

Vitamin D analogues

Calcipotriol (Dovonex)

Calcipotriol & Betamethasone 0.05%
(Dovobet)

F

Dithranol

Dithrocream 0.1-2%

F

Acitretin

Neotigason capsules 10mg and 25mg

R (Consultant Dermatologist only)

PUVA
treatment

Methoxypsoralens

R (Consultant Dermatologist only)

Warts

Plantar warts

Salicylic & lactic acids (Salactol)

F

Anogenital warts

Podophyllotoxin

R (G.U. Medicine only)

Immunosupressants for eczema

Methotrexate 2.5mg tablets only
NB Weekly dose

R (Consultant Dermatologist only)

Azathioprine tablets

R (Consultant Dermatologist only)

Ciclosporin capsules
(Neoral)
2.5mg/kg daily initially

R (Consultant
Dermatologist only)

Tacrolimus ointment 0.03%, 0.1%

R (Consultant Dermatologist Only)

Preparations for acne
In general, any topical treatments should be prescribed by the GP

Isotretinoin caps
(Roaccutane)

0.5-1mg/kg daily

R (Consultant Dermatologist Only)

Anti-infective skin preparations

Antiseptics

Potassium permanganate 1:10,000
(Permitabs)

F

Silver sulphadiazine
(Flamazine)

F

MRSA

Mupirocin 2%
(Bactroban)

R

Antiseptic skin wash - MRSA

Triclosan
(Aquasept)

R

Antifungals

Clotrimazole
(Canesten)

F

Miconazole
(Daktarin)

F

Terbinafine cream 1%
(Lamisil)

Terbinafine tablets 250mg
(Lamisil)

Antiparasitic

Alcoholic malathion liquid
(Suleo M)

F

Aqueous malathion lotion
(Derbac M)

F

Permethrin 5% dermal cream
(Lyclear)
(for scabies)

Antivirals

Aciclovir

F

Emollient & barrier preparations
Emollients	Aqueous cream	F
	Dermalo	F
	Diprobase	F
	Emulsifying ointment	F Emulsifying wax, WSP, liquid paraffin
	Epaderm	F Emulsifying wax, YSP, liquid paraffin
	E45	F
	Hydromol ointment	F Emulsifying wax, YSP
	Oilatum	F
Antiseptic bath oils	Oilatum Plus (contains triclosan. Suitable for patients with MRSA intolerant of Aquasept)	R
Barrier preparations	Drapalene	R Cavilon preferred
Barrier preparations	Sudocrem	R Cavilon preferred
Topical antipruritics
	Calamine lotion	F
	Crotamiton (Eurax)	F
	Crotamiton HC	F
Topical corticosteroids
Mild	Hydrocortisone 0.5% & 1% cream/ointment	F
Moderately potent	Betamethasone valerate 0.025% (Betnovate RD)	F
Moderately potent	Clobetasone butyrate 0.05% (Eumovate)	F
Potent	Hydrocortisone butyrate 0.1% (Locoid)	F
Potent	Betamethasone valerate 0.1% (Betnovate)	F
Very potent	Betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% + salicylic acid 3% (Diprosalic)	F
Very potent	Clobetasol propionate 0.05% (Dermovate)	F
Topical steroids with antimicrobials
Mild	Hydrocortisone & clioquinol (Vioform-hydrocortisone)	F
Mild	Hydrocortisone & fusidic acid 1% (Fucidin HC)	F
Potent	Betamethasone valerate + clioquinol (Betnovate C)	F
Topical steroids with antifungals
	Hydrocortisone & clotrimazole (Canesten HC)	F
	Hydrocortisone & miconazole (Daktacort)	F
Topical steroids with antimicrobials & antifungals
Moderately potent	Clobetasone butyrate, oxytetracycline, nystatin (Trimovate)	F
Very potent	Clobetasol propionate, neomycin, nystatin (Dermovate NN)	F
Scalp preparations for eczema & psoriasis
Shampoos	Ketoconazole 2% (Nizoral)	F
Shampoos	Polytar liquid	F
Topical steroids	Betnovate scalp application	F
Topical steroids	Diprosalic scalp application	F
Preparations for psoriasis
Coal tar based	5% coal tar extract (Alphosyl), with hydrocortisone 0.5% (Alphosyl HC)	F
Vitamin D analogues	Calcipotriol (Dovonex) Calcipotriol & Betamethasone 0.05% (Dovobet)	F
Dithranol	Dithrocream 0.1-2%	F
Acitretin	Neotigason capsules 10mg and 25mg	R (Consultant Dermatologist only)
PUVA treatment	Methoxypsoralens	R (Consultant Dermatologist only)
Warts
Plantar warts	Salicylic & lactic acids (Salactol)	F
Anogenital warts	Podophyllotoxin	R (G.U. Medicine only)
Immunosupressants for eczema
	Methotrexate 2.5mg tablets only NB Weekly dose	R (Consultant Dermatologist only)
	Azathioprine tablets	R (Consultant Dermatologist only)
	Ciclosporin capsules (Neoral) 2.5mg/kg daily initially	R (Consultant Dermatologist only)
	Tacrolimus ointment 0.03%, 0.1%	R (Consultant Dermatologist Only)
Preparations for acne In general, any topical treatments should be prescribed by the GP
	Isotretinoin caps (Roaccutane) 0.5-1mg/kg daily	R (Consultant Dermatologist Only)
Anti-infective skin preparations
Antiseptics	Potassium permanganate 1:10,000 (Permitabs)	F
Antiseptics	Silver sulphadiazine (Flamazine)	F
MRSA	Mupirocin 2% (Bactroban)	R
Antiseptic skin wash - MRSA	Triclosan (Aquasept)	R
Antifungals	Clotrimazole (Canesten)	F
	Miconazole (Daktarin)	F
	Terbinafine cream 1% (Lamisil)
	Terbinafine tablets 250mg (Lamisil)
Antiparasitic	Alcoholic malathion liquid (Suleo M)	F
	Aqueous malathion lotion (Derbac M)	F
	Permethrin 5% dermal cream (Lyclear) (for scabies)
Antivirals	Aciclovir	F