How does it work?

Unguentum M cream doesn't contain any active ingredients as such. It is made from a mixture of liquid and white soft paraffins with purified water. It also contains cetostearyl alcohol, polysorbate 40, propylene glycol, glycerol monostearate 40 – 50, medium-chain triglycerides, sorbic acid, colloidal anhydrous silica and sodium hydroxide.It works by providing a layer of oil on the surface of the skin to prevent water evaporating from the skin surface.

Dry skin results from lack of water in the stratum corneum, which is the outer layer of skin cells. When this layer becomes dehydrated it loses its flexibility and becomes cracked, scaly and sometimes itchy. The stratum corneum contains natural water-holding substances that retain water seeping up from the deeper layers of the skin, and water is also normally retained in the stratum corneum by a surface film of natural oil (sebum) and broken-down skin cells, which slow down evaporation of water from the skin surface.

The skin dries out when too much water evaporates from its surface. This increases as we get older, and is made worse by washing, because hot water and soap remove the layer of natural oil on the skin surface.

Moisturisers are helpful for all dry skin conditions, particularly eczema and dermatitis, which get worse when the skin is allowed to dry out. Used regularly they help restore the skin's smoothness, softness and flexibility by helping the skin retain moisture. This reduces redness, scaling and itching. They should be applied frequently, particularly before or after washing, to prevent the skin drying out.

In conditions such as eczema, using a moisturiser regularly, even once the skin has improved, can help prevent flare-ups of this condition.

What is it used for?

• Dry, scaly, itchy skin conditions.
• Eczema and dermatitis.
• Inherited, non-inflammatory dryness and scaling of the skin (ichthyosis, xeroderma).
• Nappy rash.
• Protecting rubbed or raw areas of skin.

Warning!

• This cream is for external use on the skin only.
• Avoid getting the cream in the eyes.
• If you use this cream before or in the bath or shower take care to avoid slipping, especially when getting in or out, as the cream may make the your skin and the bath/shower more slippery than usual.

Not to be used in

• Known sensitivity or allergy to any ingredient.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

• There are no known harmful effects when this cream is used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect. The following side effect is known to be associated with this medicine.

• Skin irritation in people hypersensitive to any of the ingredients.

This list may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine's manufacturer.

For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

By smoothing and softening the skin moisturisers can increase the absorption of other medicines that are applied to the skin. This is useful in conditions such as eczema because it improves the ability of other medicines, such as corticosteroid creams, to penetrate the skin and reduce inflammation.

However, if the moisturiser is applied just before or after applying other medicated creams, ointments or lotions, the moisturiser could dilute the other medicated product. For this reason you should try to leave several minutes between applying moisturisers and medicated skin products, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredients

There are many other skin preparations available that contain liquid paraffin and white soft paraffin as the main ingredients. However, there are no other preparations in the UK that contain all the ingredients used to formulate Unguentum M cream.