Dermatology Handbook

The professional's guide to product selection

Products

Periactin

Cyproheptadine hydrochloride 4mg tablets containing cyproheptadine hydrochloride equivalent to 4mg anhydrous cyproheptadine hydrochloride. It is a serotonin and histamine antagonist with anticholinergic and sedative properties.

Permethrin 5% Cream

Permethrin induces electrochemical abnormalities across the membranes of the excitable cells of susceptible parasites. This leads to sensory hyper-excitability, lack of coordination and prostration.

Pevaryl

Pevaryl contains econazole nitrate, which is a broad-spectrum antimycotic with activity against dermatophytes, yeasts and moulds. A clinically relevant action against Gram-positive bacteria has also been found

Phenergan

Phenergan is a potent, long-acting antihistamine with additional anti-emetic central sedative and anticholinergic properties.

Piriton

Piriton contains chlorphenamine maleate which is a potent antihistamine (H1-antagonist)

Pro-Banthine

Tablets containing 15mg of the antispasmodic propantheline bromide

Propecia

Propecia contains finasteride 1mg, which is a competitive and specific inhibitor of type II 5α-reductase. It inhibits a process responsible for miniaturisation of the scalp hair follicles, which can lead to reversal of the balding process

Protopic

The mechanism of action of tacrolimus in atopic dermatitis is not fully understood. Whilethe following have been observed, the clinical significance of these observations in atopicdermatitis is not known. Via its binding to a specific cytoplasmic immunophilin (FKBP12),tacrolimus inhibits calcium-dependent signal transduction pathways in T cells, therebypreventing the transcription and synthesis of IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5 and other cytokines such asGM-CSF, TNF-α and IFN-γ. In patients with atopic dermatitis, improvement of skin lesionsduring treatment with tacrolimus ointment was associated with reduced Fc receptorexpression on Langerhans cells and a reduction of their hyperstimulatory activity towards Tcells. Tacrolimus ointment does not affect collagen synthesis in humans.

Psoriderm Cream

Psoriderm Cream is a coal tar preparation. Coal tar has been used dermatologically for hundreds of years and has been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of scaly skin conditions such as psoriasis. The precise mechanism of action of coal tar is not understood, largely as a result of it comprising up to 10,000 components. There is evidence that topical application of coal tar improves psoriasis by reducing the excessive rate of mitotic epidermal cell division.

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