Are you experiencing red, scaly patches on your skin? Maybe they are itchy or inflamed. We call this condition plaque psoriasis. Although it is a bit annoying, it can be controlled with good treatment. Your doctor may have prescribed a new cream for you to treat it. Its name is Tapinarof. So don't be scared when you hear this name. In this article, we will talk about what this cream called Tapinarof is, how exactly to use it, and what we need to be careful about.
What kind of medicine is this Tapinarof?
Simply put, Tapinarof is a topical cream used to treat the plaque psoriasis condition we discussed above. Its main function is to control the symptoms of the disease on your skin.
This means that this cream helps reduce the redness, inflammation, and discomfort of your skin, as well as the peeling . It works by controlling some of the reactions that cause the disease under the skin. You may see the brand name `VTAMA` as its brand name.
Things you need to tell your doctor before using the medicine
It's important for your doctor to have a complete picture of your health before prescribing this medication. So, be sure to tell him or her about the following:
- Allergies: If you have any allergies, not just to this Tapinarof cream, but to any other medicine, food, skin product, or preservatives, please let us know.
- Pregnancy: If you are pregnant, or planning to have a baby in the near future, it is essential to tell your doctor.
- Nursing mothers: If you are a nursing mother, inform your doctor about this as well.
Based on this information, the doctor will decide how appropriate and safe this medication is for you.
How exactly do you use this cream?
To get the most out of a medication, it's important to use it correctly. Let's take a look at how to use this cream.
Most importantly: This medicine is for external use only . Do not take it by mouth or use it internally for any reason.
- Cleanliness: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after applying the medicine. However, if you are applying the medicine to both hands, wash your hands only before applying the medicine and do not wash your hands after applying the medicine.
- Area of application: Apply the medicine only to the affected areas of the skin. Do not apply this cream to healthy, normal skin.
- Eye Care: Be very careful not to get this cream in your eyes. If you accidentally get it in your eyes, do not panic and rinse your eyes thoroughly with clean water for several minutes.
- Schedule: Try to use this at the same time every day, as prescribed by your doctor. If you are taking it once a day, take it at the same time. Do not take it more often or more often than your doctor tells you to.
- Stopping: Continue taking the medicine until your doctor tells you to stop. Do not stop halfway.
- If given to children: If this medicine is used on young children, special care may be required. Therefore, be sure to talk to your doctor about it and get advice.
What to do if you miss a dose of medicine?
It is common to forget to take your medicine. If this happens, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose when you remember (for example, it is only a few hours away), skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take a double dose.
Let's also learn about side effects.
Like any medicine, this one can cause minor side effects in some people. But most people don't. Since it's important to be aware of them, let's take a look at what these side effects are.
| Nature of the side effect | Symptoms that can be felt |
|---|---|
| If you experience these symptoms, tell your doctor immediately. | |
| Severe allergic reactions | Skin rash, severe itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. (This may be an emergency) |
| If these symptoms persist or are bothersome, tell your doctor. | |
| Discomfort at the injection site | Inflammation, itching, crusting, or peeling of the skin. |
| Flu-like symptoms | Fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, headache, and malaise. |
| Hair follicle infection (Folliculitis) | The appearance of small, red, pus-filled blisters around the hair follicles in the area where the medication is being taken. |
| Other minor features | Headache, sore throat. |
If you notice anything unusual that is not on this list, talk to your doctor about that as well.
What if I accidentally apply too much medicine?
If you think you have accidentally taken too much of this medicine, or if someone has taken it, immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
How do you properly store and dispose of medicine?
- Storage: Keep the medicine tube out of the reach of children and pets . Store at room temperature (between 20-25 degrees Celsius). Do not store in the freezer. Also, do not store in direct sunlight or near a stove.
- Disposal: Do not release expired or unused medicines into the environment. The best thing to do is to take the medicine out of the tube, mix it with used tea leaves, coffee grounds, or some soil, put it in a tightly sealed polythene bag, and throw it in the trash. Never flush medicine down the toilet. If you are not sure, ask your doctor for advice.
Take-Home Message
- Tapinarof is a topical cream for psoriasis. It controls redness, inflammation, and scaling of the skin.
- This medicine should only be applied to the affected areas. Do not apply to healthy skin. Be careful not to get it in your eyes.
- Be sure to tell your doctor about any other illnesses, medications you are taking, and allergies you have, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- If you experience severe allergic symptoms such as swelling of the face, lips, or throat, seek medical advice immediately. This may be an emergency.
- If you have any concerns or fears about using the medication or about side effects, don't keep them to yourself, talk to your doctor and resolve them.
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