How does Elocon (Mometasone Furoate) work:

Elocon (Mometasone Furoate) contains the active ingredient mometasone furoate, which is a type of medicine called a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are medicines used for reducing inflammation. Inflammation of the skin happens due to irritation of the skin, and is caused by the release of various substances that are important in the immune system. These substances cause blood vessels to widen, resulting in the irritated area becoming red, swollen, itchy and painful.

Elocon (Mometasone Furoate) works by acting inside the skin cells to decrease the release of these inflammatory substances. This reduces swelling, redness and itch. Mometasone is a potent corticosteroid that is applied to the skin to treat severe inflammatory skin disorders, such as dermatitis and psoriasis, that have not responded to milder steroids. The active ingredient is formulated in a moisturising base that provides a layer of oil on the surface of the skin, helping to prevent water from evaporating from the skin surface. This helps reduce the dryness, scaling and itching of these skin conditions.

Dosage & Administration:

Adults: Apply once daily. Children: Use should be limited to the least amount necessary. Use of steroids over a long period of time may interfere with growth and development.

Apply a thin film of the cream or ointment or a few drops of the lotion to the affected skin once a day. Massage it in until it disappears.

Elocon may be used for children aged 2 and older, but not for more than 3 weeks.

Side Effects:

• Acne vulgaris
• Chronic inflammatory disorder of the facial skin
• Infections of the skin with viruses, fungi
• Inflammatory rash around the mouth
• Itching around the back passage and genitals
• Nappy rash
• Skin reactions following vaccination
• Skin sores caused by syphills
• Tuberculosis infection of the skin
• Widespread plaque psoriasis

Precautions:

Elocon is for external use only. Avoid getting it into your eyes. Do not use it to treat anything other than the condition for which it was prescribed. If your skin becomes irritated, call your physician. If you have any kind of skin infection, tell your physician before you start using Elocon. Do not use Elocon cream or ointment on your face, underarms, or groin area unless your physician tells you to.

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your physician immediately. Elocon should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefit outweighs the potential risk to the unborn child. You should not use Elocon while breastfeeding, since absorbed hormone could make its way into the breast milk and perhaps harm the nursing baby. If you are a new mother, you should contact your physician, who will help you decide between breastfeeding and using Elocon.

Further Advice:

When you use Elocon cream or ointment, you inevitably absorb some of the medication through your skin and into the bloodstream. Too much absorption can lead to unwanted side effects elsewhere in the body. To keep this problem to a minimum, avoid using large amounts of Elocon over large areas, and do not cover it with airtight dressings such as plastic wrap or adhesive bandages unless specifically told to by your physician.