Are you suffering from scalp psoriasis? It can be difficult to do your daily activities due to flaking, itching, and redness. Your doctor may have prescribed a special shampoo for you, called Anthralin. So today, let's talk about how to use this medicine and what you need to be careful about.
What kind of medicine is Anthralin?
Simply put, Anthralin is a special shampoo used to treat psoriasis on your scalp. It is sometimes available under other brand names, for example, you may be familiar with the name Zithranol. This medication works by controlling the rapid growth of skin cells caused by psoriasis.
Doctors may also recommend this shampoo for other conditions, so if you have any further questions about this, please ask your doctor.
Things to tell your doctor before using this medicine
Before you start using this shampoo, you should clearly explain these things to your doctor. This is very important for your safety.
- If you currently have other skin conditions or if your skin is very sensitive, please let us know.
- Be sure to tell your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to anthralin in the past, or to any other medicine, food, dye, or preservative .
- If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant .
- If you are a breastfeeding mother .
Based on this information, the doctor will decide whether this medicine is suitable for you or not.
How exactly do you use this shampoo?
To get the most out of a medication, it's important to use it correctly. Let's see how to do this.
1. For external use only: This shampoo should only be used on your scalp. Do not take it by mouth for any reason.
2. Wet your hair: Before applying shampoo, wet your hair and scalp thoroughly with water.
3. Apply the shampoo: Take the amount of shampoo recommended by the doctor and apply it thoroughly to the flaky areas of the scalp.
4. Leave on for 3-5 minutes: After applying the shampoo, leave it on your scalp for 3 to 5 minutes . If your doctor has prescribed a different time, do so.
5. Rinse thoroughly: After the allotted time, rinse the shampoo completely with water.
6. Regular Shampoo/Conditioner: After washing out this medicated shampoo, you can use your regular shampoo or conditioner.
7. Be careful with your eyes: Do not let this shampoo get into your eyes under any circumstances. If it does, rinse immediately with clean water.
8. Only use as directed: Do not use more than the number of times your doctor tells you to.
If you give it to children...
This medicine may sometimes be recommended for skin conditions in children over the age of 12. However, you should talk to your pediatrician about it and use it only as directed.
What to do if you overdose?
If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, do not panic and immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Important: This medicine is for you only. Do not let anyone else use this shampoo, even if they have the same symptoms as you.
Other things to be careful about when using shampoo
There are several things you need to be careful about while using this medicine.
- Watch for symptoms: Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or worsen. If the area where the medicine is applied becomes very itchy, painful , or if the blisters seem to be spreading , seek medical advice immediately. You may need to reduce the frequency of your treatment or stop taking it for a while.
- Watch out for stains: This is very important. This shampoo can leave permanent stains on your clothes, towels, and bedding. So be very careful. To prevent stains on bathroom tiles and tub/shower, rinse thoroughly with water after bathing and use a cleanser to thoroughly clean any remaining shampoo residue.
What are the possible side effects?
Like any medication, this shampoo can cause side effects in some people. Let's take a look at what they are and what to do if they occur.
| Side effect | Description and what to do |
|---|---|
| Things to inform your doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Symptoms such as skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, and tongue. These can be serious, so seek medical advice immediately. |
| Severe inflammation/pain | Unbearable burning, soreness, or pain where the shampoo was applied. |
| Spread of wounds | If the scabies lesions seem to be getting worse or spreading to new areas. |
| Things that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Minor skin inflammation | Slight redness or swelling may occur at the site of application. This usually subsides within a few days. |
| Color change | Your hair, nails, or skin color may change temporarily. If this persists, tell your doctor . |
This list may not include all possible side effects, so if you experience anything unusual in addition to these, talk to your doctor about it.
How do you store the medicine?
- Keep away from children: This is very important. Keep it in a safe place out of the reach of children.
- Storage temperature: Store at room temperature (between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius). Protect from extreme heat or extreme cold.
- After expiration: If the expiration date on the shampoo bottle has passed, throw it away without using it.
Take-Home Message
- Anthralin shampoo is an external treatment for scalp psoriasis. Never take it by mouth.
- Use only as directed by your doctor, at the prescribed time and for the prescribed number of times.
- If you notice any severe burning, pain, or soreness where the medicine was applied, tell your doctor immediately.
- Be very careful as this shampoo can stain clothes and other items.
- If you suspect an overdose, call the National Poisons Information Center immediately or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU).
- If you have any questions or concerns about this medication, be sure to talk to your doctor about it.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න