Trimovate Cream

What is Trimovate Cream?

Trimovate is a prescription-only topical treatment that can be used to treat a variety of skin conditions, including those caused by a bacterial or fungal infection.

If you’re struggling with inflamed, itchy skin, Trimovate can help to relieve your symptoms, while preventing the infection from spreading.

Trimovate Cream is:

• A corticosteroid formulation stronger than Hydrocortisone, but weaker than Betnovate.
• Made using three active ingredients: Clobetasone Butyrate (steroid), Oxytetracycline (antibiotic) and Nystatin (antifungal).
• Suitable for all ages, and most commonly prescribed for skin conditions such as eczema (atopic, seborrhoeic & contact dermatitis), psoriasis, nappy rash and impetigo.

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What is Trimovate used to treat?

Trimovate Cream is used to treat conditions such as:

• Skin infections
• Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
• Allergic dermatitis
• Psoriasis
• Inflammatory skin conditions
• Itchy, irritated or dry skin caused by skin-to-skin contact (intertrigo)

Trimovate should not be used for the treatment of rosacea or acne.

How does Trimovate work?

Trimovate cream is a combination medication that contains three active ingredients:

• Oxytetracycline: An antibiotic that works by inhibiting the growth and reproduction of bacteria. It does this by binding to the bacterial cells and preventing them from making proteins that are essential for their growth and survival. This allows your body's immune system to fight the infection more effectively.
• Nystatin: An antifungal. Antifungals are similar to antibiotics, but instead of targeting bacteria, they inhibit the growth and reproduction of fungal and yeast infections.
• Clobetasone butyrate: A corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are hormones that are naturally produced in the body by the adrenal glands. They help to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system.

Together, these ingredients:

• Soothe inflammation and offer symptomatic relief.
• Treat the root cause of the skin condition.
• Work to prevent bacterial or fungal skin infections from spreading.

Is Trimovate a strong steroid?

Trimovate cream contains clobetasone propionate, a corticosteroid, which is also the active ingredient in Eumovate. Corticosteroids are a class of drugs that are used to treat inflammatory skin conditions. Clobetasone propionate is considered a moderate strength corticosteroid (which is why Trimovate cream requires a prescription).

When used as directed, Trimovate cream can be an effective treatment for certain inflammatory skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and allergic dermatitis. However, because it is a potent steroid, long-term use or overuse can lead to side effects such as thinning of the skin, stretch marks, and changes in skin pigmentation.

It is important to use Trimovate cream only as directed by your doctor or the instructions on the label and to avoid using it for longer than recommended. If you have any concerns or questions about the use of Trimovate cream, always consult your doctor or a pharmacist.

Is Trimovate an antibiotic?

Yes, Trimovate cream contains Nystatin, which is an antibiotic. This antibiotic component of Trimovate cream helps to treat bacterial infections of the skin.

Is Trimovate prescription only?

Yes — Trimovate is a prescription-only medicine and cannot be purchased over the counter. As a powerful steroidal, antibiotic, and antifungal treatment, it should only ever be used to treat infections under medical supervision.

How to use Trimovate Cream

Usually, Trimovate will be prescribed for use once or twice a day, but the frequency and duration of treatment can vary from patient to patient. To use follow the steps below:

• Clean the affected area with soap and water, and dry the skin thoroughly.
• Apply a thin layer of cream to the affected area(s). You can measure how much cream to use in ‘fingertip units’; measuring from the tip of your index finger to the first joint. Gently massage the skin, rubbing the cream in until it’s fully absorbed. Where possible, try not to get too much cream on the surrounding areas of healthy skin.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after using the cream (unless the affected area is on your hands).

Trimovate fingertip unit guide

For an adult:

When using Trimovate, remember to:

• Avoid contact with eyes, mouth, and other mucous membranes. If accidental contact occurs, rinse with water.
• Avoid using the cream for longer than your doctor or the label recommends.
• Keep the cream out of reach of children and pets.

Trimovate ingredients

The active ingredients are clobetasone 17-butyrate, calcium oxytetracycline and nystatin. Each 1 g contains 0.5 mg of clobetasone butyrate (0.05 % w/w), 30 mg oxytetracycline (3 % w/w) as calcium oxytetracycline, and 100,000 units of nystatin.

The other ingredients are titanium dioxide, glyceryl monostearate, cetostearyl alcohol, soft paraffin white, polyoxyl 40 stearate, dimeticone 20, glycerol, chlorocresol, sodium metabisulphite, sodium acid phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, and purified water.

Sources

Trimovate: Patient Information Leaflet

Trimovate side effects

It’s quite rare to experience side effects when using Trimovate, but if you do, they can include:

• Skin reactions or irritation, such as redness, itching, or burning
• Allergic reactions, such as rash, hives, or difficulty breathing
• Acne or other skin problems
• Thin or fragile skin
• Stretch marks
• Increased hair growth
• Discolouration of the skin cells
• Changes in skin pigmentation
• Folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles)
• Contact dermatitis (skin irritation caused by contact with a substance)

Note that this list is not exhaustive and may not include all possible side effects of Trimovate cream. You can find a full list of side effects in the patient information leaflet.

If you experience any unusual symptoms or side effects while using this medication, you should contact your doctor or a pharmacist for advice.

Trimovate warnings

You should not use Trimovate cream if:

• You have a known allergy to any of the ingredients in the cream.
• You have a primary viral infection of the skin.
• You have primary skin lesions caused by a bacterial, fungal, or yeast infection.
• You have a confirmed skin infection caused by Acinetobacter species, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas species, Proteus species, Serratia species, or Streptococcus B.
• You are trying to treat rosacea or acne with Trimovate.
• You have itchy skin without any inflammation.

It’s also advised to avoid prolonged use of Trimovate cream, and this is especially true for children and infants as this may lead to adrenal suppression.

It’s generally not recommended to use Trimovate on your face. This is because if the medication gets into your eyes it can cause glaucoma.

Can I use Trimovate during pregnancy?

Trimovate cream, like many medications, should be used with caution during pregnancy. The safety of this cream during pregnancy has not been established, and it should only be used if the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks to the unborn baby.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it’s crucial to consult your doctor or a healthcare professional before using Trimovate cream.