Boots DermaCare Hydrocortisone 1% w/w Ointment

Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist have told you.

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• Ask your pharmacist if you need more information or advice.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
• You must talk to a doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after 7 days.

1. What DermaCare Ointment is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use DermaCare Ointment
3. How to use DermaCare Ointment
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store DermaCare Ointment
6. Contents of the pack and other information

• If you are allergic to hydrocortisone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you have an untreated skin infection such as athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), chickenpox (varicella) or shingles (Herpes zoster), cold sores (Herpes simplex), impetigo, ringworm or thrush, infected lesions, ulcerative conditions, red appearance on face, peri-oral dermatitis, or acne.
• On the eyes and face, or ano-genital area.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using DermaCare Ointment:

• If you have psoriasis; the condition may become worse after stopping long-term treatment.
• If you will be applying the ointment to your face. This ointment should not be used for long on the face as it may damage the facial skin.
• If you will be using the ointment for the treatment of dermatitis or nappy rash on children and infants. In this case the courses of treatment should not normally exceed 7 days.
• If you are using this ointment under an occlusive dressing that can considerably increase the absorption of this ointment.
• If your condition worsens during use consult a pharmacist or doctor - you may be experiencing an allergic reaction, have an infection or your condition requires a different treatment.
• If you experience a recurrence of your condition shortly after stopping treatment, within 2 weeks, do not restart using the ointment without consulting a pharmacist or doctor.
• If your condition has resolved and on recurrence the redness extends beyond the initial treatment area and you experience a burning sensation, please seek medical advice before restarting treatment.

Caution should be taken to keep away from the eyes.

Contact your doctor if you experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances.

Do not smoke or go near naked flames - risk of severe burns. Fabric (clothing, bedding, dressings etc) that has been in contact with this product burns more easily and is a serious fire hazard. Washing clothing and bedding may reduce product build-up but not totally remove it.

This product is not recommended for use on children under 10 years of age without medical supervision. Treatment in children should be restricted to no more than 5-7 days.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. If you are breast-feeding, do not apply the product to your chest area.

DermaCare Ointment contains wool fat (lanolin) This may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis).

If you have squeezed out too much ointment, wipe off the excess with a paper towel. Do not use the ointment under dressings (such as plasters) or nappies because too much hydrocortisone may be absorbed and may result in adverse effects upon adrenal gland function.

If you forget to apply the DermaCare Ointment, apply it as soon as possible and carry on as before. If it is 3 hours or less until the next application, then ignore the missed dose.

• an allergic reaction (swelling of the lips, face or neck leading to severe difficulty in breathing; skin rash or hives). This is a very serious but rare side effect. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

• The skin may become thinner when used in the nappy areas of children where conditions are moist.
• If DermaCare Ointment is used often and for a long time, especially under dressings, adverse effects on adrenal gland function are more likely. These effects are also more likely in children and infants.
• Prolonged use, especially on sensitive areas including skin folds, may result in thinning of the skin, widening of the blood vessels, stretch marks and may suppress the functioning of the adrenal gland.
• Blurred vision. This side effect has been reported, but the frequency for it to occur is not known.
• Steroid withdrawal reaction: If used over prolonged periods a withdrawal reaction, which might appear to be different from the previous condition, may occur in some patients during treatment or within days to weeks after stopping treatment, with some or all of the following features: redness of the skin which can extend beyond the initial area treated, a burning or stinging sensation, intense itching, peeling of the skin, oozing open sores.

If your condition becomes worse during treatment you may have an allergy to one of the ingredients or an infection. Stop using the ointment and tell your doctor as soon as possible.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

The active substance is micronised hydrocortisone. The other ingredients are wool fat (see section 2), liquid paraffin and white soft paraffin.

A collapsible aluminium tube, with a membrane seal at the nozzle, internal epoxy lacquer, latex endseal band in the crimp seal area and a white plastic cap for reclosure after piercing membrane. DermaCare Ointment is provided in 10g and 15g tubes. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.