Eumovate Cream & Ointment

Eczema Doctor Service

Eumovate cream is used for the short term treatment and control of patches of red, itchy skin caused by eczema and dermatitis.

The cream works to stop the skin's over-reaction to the triggers that cause skin flare-ups such as eczema or dermatitis. The active ingredient is clobetasone butyrate which is a topical corticosteroid to control inflammation of the skin. The cream base also has moisturising properties. 

You can order Eumovate online from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. To see if you are suitable for this treatment, complete the online assessment and checkout. Our UK registered doctors will review the order and after approval pass the prescription to the Pharmacy team. We will then dispense and dispatch your order to your chosen address.

Eczema Symptoms

Atopic eczema causes areas of skin to become itchy, dry, cracked and sore. The severity of atopic eczema can vary a lot from person to person. People with mild eczema may only have small areas of dry skin that are occasionally itchy. In more severe cases, atopic eczema can cause widespread inflamed skin all over the body and constant itching.

Scratching can disrupt your sleep, make your skin bleed, and cause secondary infections. It can also make itching worse, and a cycle of itching and regular scratching may develop. This can lead to sleepless nights and difficulty concentrating at day time.

There are usually periods where the symptoms improve, followed by periods where they get worse (flare-ups). Flare-ups may occur as often as 2 or 3 times a month.

Atopic eczema can occur all over the body, but is most common on the hands (especially fingers), the insides of the elbows or backs of the knees, and the face and scalp in children.

Treatments

Treatments for atopic eczema can help to ease the symptoms.  The main treatments for atopic eczema are:

• emollients (moisturisers) – used every day to stop the skin becoming dry
• topical corticosteroids – creams and ointments used to reduce swelling and redness during flare-ups.

Other Treatments Include:

• topical pimecrolimus or tacrolimus for eczema in sensitive sites not responding to simpler treatment
• antihistamines for severe itching
• bandages or special body suits to allow the body to heal underneath
• more powerful treatments offered by a dermatologist (skin specialist)

More About Managing Eczema & Dermatitis

• Skin specialists often advise people with eczema or dermatitis to use emollient (moisturising) skin products, including creams and bath oils, to keep moisture in the skin. This can make your skin more resistant to flare-ups. Avoid using soap and heavily scented products.

If a rash comes back - sometimes people with dermatitis find their rash soon comes back after treatment, or never disappears completely. This is often because they are still in contact with their trigger i.e. what causes the reaction. If you can’t work out what’s wrong, ask your doctor for advice.

About Topical Corticosteroids

If your skin is sore and inflamed, a GP may prescribe a topical corticosteroid (applied directly to your skin), which can reduce the inflammation within a few days.

Topical corticosteroids can be prescribed in different strengths, depending on the severity of your atopic eczema and the areas of skin affected.

They Can Be:

• very mild (such as hydrocortisone)
• moderate (such as betamethasone valerate and clobetasone butyrate)
• strong (such as a higher dose of betamethasone valerate and betamethasone dipropionate)
• very strong (such as clobetasol propionate and diflucortolone valterate).

If you need to use corticosteroids frequently, see a GP regularly so they can check the treatment is working effectively and you're using the right amount.

How To Reduce The Damage From Scratching

Eczema is often itchy, and it can be very tempting to scratch the affected areas of skin. But scratching usually damages the skin, which can itself cause more eczema to occur. The skin eventually thickens into leathery areas as a result of chronic scratching. Deep scratching also causes bleeding and increases the risk of your skin becoming infected or scarred.

Try to reduce scratching whenever possible. You could try gently rubbing your skin with your fingers instead. If your baby has atopic eczema, anti-scratch mittens may stop them scratching their skin.

• Keep your nails short and clean to minimise damage to the skin from unintentional scratching.
• Keep your skin covered with light clothing to reduce damage from habitual scratching.

Avoid Triggers

A GP will work with you to establish what might trigger the eczema flare-ups, although it may get better or worse for no obvious reason.

Once you know your triggers, you can try to avoid them. 

For example:

• if certain fabrics irritate your skin, avoid wearing these and stick to soft, fine-weave clothing or natural materials such as cotton
• if heat aggravates your eczema, keep the rooms in your home cool, especially the bedroom
• avoid using soaps or detergents that may affect your skin – use soap substitutes instead.

Common triggers

• Jewellery including earrings or studs  (especially gold-plated earrings)
• Coins
• Watch buckles, metal straps or the metal back of a watch
• Metal studs or fastenings on jeans, bras or underwear.

All of these have a metal in them called nickel, which is a very common trigger. If you react badly to nickel, all of the triggers in the list could be a problem. So if you’ve reacted badly to one of the common triggers, you’ll need to watch out for the other common triggers.

Other common triggers
Triggers include rubber and pine tree sap, which are used in all sorts of items we touch every day. You might find triggers:

In the home: such as plasters, furniture polish, varnishes, rubber gloves or elastic in clothes.
In substances you use at work: such as glues, oils, lubricants or cement.
In the garden: certain plants and weeds, gardening gloves.

Although some people with eczema are allergic to house dust mites, trying to rid your home of them is not recommended as it can be difficult and there's no clear evidence that it helps.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects although not everybody gets them.

Possible Side Effects

Stop using the product and consult your doctor if you see any of the following side effects:

Very rare (affects less than 1 in 10000 people)

• Redness of the skin
• Itching
• Hives
• Local skin burning
• Increased hair growth
• Increased weight, Obesity
• Changes in skin colour
• Skin thinning

For a full list of side effects, please read the Patient Information Leaflet.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, our Rightdose pharmacists or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

You can help to make medicines safer by reporting any side-effects to the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

Patient Information Leaflet Eumovate Eczema&Dermatitis 0.05% Cream

Other Medicines and Eumovate 

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using this cream if you are taking any over the counter or prescription medicines, in particular:

• other corticosteroids medicines such as eczema cream
• asthma inhalers, tablets, injections
• nasal sprays
• eye
• nose drops
• ritonavir
• itraconazole

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Talk to your doctor before using Eumovate if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.

How To Store Eumovate

• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the tube or carton after (EXP). The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Do not store above 25°C.
• Do not throw away medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

How To Use Eumovate

For external use only. 

• This product is intended for short term use only.
• You should apply the cream for the shortest time necessary to relieve your symptoms.
• Do not use more than the recommended dose.
• Do not use it for more than 7 days.

Adults and children aged 12 years and over: Use the cream once or twice daily, for up to 7 days.

Directions:

• Wash and dry your hands.
• Use the fingertip unit as a guide.
• Squeeze out the correct amount of cream onto your index finger. From the crease in your finger, squeeze the cream halfway to your fingertip. Half a fingertip will cover a patch of skin the same size as the palm of your hand.
• For smaller areas, use a smaller amount. This cream is not meant to treat large areas.
• Gently rub cream into the skin you are treating once or twice a day.
• Wash your hands again (unless it is your hands you are treating).

If you use a bit too much of the cream by mistake, don’t worry – but try to keep to the fingertip unit.

If you forget to use the cream, use it when you remember.

Stop using Eumovate if the condition resolves within 7 days.

Do not use it for more than 7 days.

Seek medical advice immediately if:

• your symptoms continue or worsen
• you use more medicines than recommended or swallow the cream.

Do not use Eumovate:

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to clobetasone butyrate or to any of the other ingredients.
• On broken skin
• On skin infected with viruses (e.g. herpes or chickenpox), fungus (e.g. thrush, ringworm or athlete's foot) or bacteria 
• On the face, groin, genitals or between the toes
• Under a dressing (e.g. a plaster)
• If you are under 12 years unless your doctor tells you to. 

Ask your doctor before you use this medicine:

• if you have psoriasis, acne or seborrhoeic dermatitis
• if you have already used the cream on the same area twice before.

Take special care with Eumovate

• Do not use over large areas of skin.
• Do not use it on the face, groin, genital area or between the toes.
• Take care to ensure the cream does not get into the eye.
• Use on intact skin only, do not apply to open wounds.
• Do not cover the treated area with bandages or dressings.

If symptoms persist after 7 days of treatment, see your doctor.

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

What Eumovate Cream Contains

Active ingredient  Clobetasone butyrate 0.05% w/w.

Other ingredients Glycerol, glycerol monostearate, cetostearyl alcohol, beeswax substitute 6621, arlacel 165, dimeticone 20, chlorocresol, sodium citrate, citric acid monohydrate and purified water.

The tube contains 15 g of cream.