"Bepanten" is known to many young parents, as it helps out when a baby develops prickly heat, diaper rash and other skin problems. Such a remedy can even be used in newborns, since it acts only locally and does not contain harmful components. It is not contraindicated for nursing mothers who use Bepanten for painful sensations caused by cracked nipples.
Features of the drug
Bepanten is manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Bayer in two formulations. One of them is a medicinal cream, which has a lighter texture, white color and quick penetration into the skin. The second form of the drug is an ointment, which is more viscous and yellowish.
Both products are available over the counter in 30 and 100 gram tubes and contain dexpanthenol as the main ingredient. Excipients in different types of "Bepanten" differ, but they are safe and cause allergies in isolated cases.
Dexpanthenol, after entering the skin cells, becomes pantothenic acid, the second name of which is "vitamin B5". This vitamin compound has beneficial properties due to which it stimulates skin healing, moisturizes it and provides protection from harmful effects (wind, low temperature, etc.). Under the influence of pantothenic acid, collagen fibers become stronger, and the regeneration of epidermal cells is accelerated.
Is it used for breastfeeding?
During lactation, it is forbidden to use many medicines, since their active substances can penetrate into human milk and thereby affect the fragile body of the baby. But there are no restrictions in relation to "Bepanten". Both the cream and the ointment with this name can be safely used by both nursing mothers and newborn babies.
The active substance of such drugs has a local effect and is not absorbed into the blood.
Only in rare cases, "Bepanten" can harm a woman - if she has a hypersensitivity to dexpanthenol or any inactive drug component.
There are no other contraindications for the ointment and cream, although their use is also not recommended in case of skin infection, since the active components of Bepanten are unable to destroy pathogens.
When is it appointed?
The cream is most often used for excessive dry skin, as well as for irritation, for example, if a woman has dermatitis or sunburn. This form is also recommended for the prevention of skin dryness and damage. If you need to quickly cure scratches, burns, insect bites, prickly heat, abrasions and similar problems, they usually buy an ointment.
Breastfeeding mothers often use Bepanten to treat or prevent cracked nipples. For this purpose, both forms of the drug can be used, since the percentage of the active substance in them is the same. They are applied if the surface of the nipples turns red or cracked as a result of improper attachment of the baby to the breast.
This problem is not uncommon for young mothers. Women may encounter it already in the first days of breastfeeding if the baby does not properly grip the nipple or the mother is inept in using the breast pump. Cracks can also be caused by inappropriate hygiene care, such as when mom washes her breasts frequently using soap.
How to use for cracked nipples?
Breast treatment with Bepanten is performed after each feeding. In this case, rinsing the product from the nipples before the next feeding of the baby is not required. According to the instructions, the drug is quickly absorbed into the skin and does not harm the baby in any way. Both dexpanthenol and all inactive substances of both forms of the drug are safe and presented in small quantities, so they do not cause any negative effects in the child's body.
In most cases, babies do not react in any way to the breasts treated with Bepanten, since the ointment and cream do not have a strong smell and any taste. Therefore, you can not be afraid to forget to wipe your breast before feeding, since when using "Bepanten" there is no need for this.
If the mother does not dare to feed the baby without washing off the cream or ointment from the nipples, then you need to reapply the drug as soon as possible - as soon as the baby finishes its meal.
Simultaneously with treatment with "Bepanten" it is recommended to observe such measures that will help the cracks in the nipples heal faster and prevent the appearance of new ones.
- Learn how to properly latch on the baby and carefully remove the breast from his mouth. If you do not eliminate this cause, which is the main one in case of damage to the nipples, then all the costs for Bepanten will be unjustified, since the problem will soon recur again.
- Do not wash your breasts too often and do not wear too tight underwear. For normal breast care, a daily hygienic shower is sufficient. In no case should the nipples be treated with brilliant green, as this will lead to severe drying of the skin and the appearance of new cracks. You should wash your breasts after each feeding only if the cracks are provoked by an infection.
- Use a breast pump correctly. The mother should choose a device suitable for her breasts and consult a specialist on how to use it. If there are already cracks, then the breast pump should be set aside until they are completely healed. Until the wounds on the nipples heal, you should only express your breasts with your hands.
- Apply overlays. If only one nipple is cracked, the mother can breastfeed the baby and express milk from the diseased gland. You can also give a healthy breast to suck first, and offer a cracked nipple second, since a hungry baby sucks with great effort. When cracks appear on both nipples, a woman should use pads, but after recovering from them, it is advisable to immediately abandon them so that such assistive devices do not affect breastfeeding.
Application for other indications
If "Bepanten" is used by a woman for abrasions, frostbite, dermatitis, stretch marks and in other cases, then the treatment is recommended to be carried out 1-2 times a day. The skin is pre-cleansed, and then an ointment or cream is applied in a circular motion until the medication is completely absorbed into the affected area. Most often, the medicine is used in the morning and at bedtime until complete healing.
If, after 1-2 weeks of application, there is no effect or the skin has begun to fester, you should immediately inform the doctor about this.
Reviews
Most women call Bepanten an effective topical remedy, which makes the skin less dry and minor lesions quickly disappear. The cream is praised for its consistency, easy application, lack of pronounced odor, safe action and rare side effects. Only in some cases did an allergy occur to such a drug, forcing a nursing mother to abandon its use.
The advantages of the ointment include quick help for minor burns, dermatitis, abrasions, cracks and other problems. Such a product is easy to apply, does not leave stains on clothes and hands, and is quickly washed off if required. However, many women like this "Bepanten" less because of its higher fat content and viscosity, although it is his nursing mothers who are most often used in the treatment of nipple cracks.
The disadvantage of both forms is usually called the high cost, since the average price of a tube with 30 g of any drug is 350-450 rubles. Because of this, women often prefer more affordable moisturizers and wound-healing products, which are presented in a fairly large assortment in pharmacies and children's stores.
Analogs
If the possibility of using Bepanten is absent, a woman can use other drugs that also contain dexpanthenol. Such medications include Panthenol, D-Panthenol, Pantoderm, Panthenol-Teva, Dexpanthenol, Panthenolsprey and other drugs. They come in the form of ointments, creams and aerosols. All of these medications can be safely used in women who are breastfeeding.
If the damaged skin of a nursing mother becomes inflamed and there is a risk of infection, it is better to replace the usual "Bepanten" with a drug called "Bepanten Plus". Its main difference is the presence in the composition of the second active substance, which has an antiseptic effect. Chlorhexidine is such an active ingredient. The drug can be used while breastfeeding, but it is advisable to consult a doctor before using it.
Analogues of "Bepanten" with a different composition, but a similar effect on the skin, include "Desitin", "Sudokrem", "Tsindol", "Purelan", "Elidel", "Solcoseryl" and other means. They effectively cope with inflammation and minor injuries, but each of these drugs has its own contraindications and application features, so it is better to entrust the choice of such analogs to a specialist.
The instruction for the drug "Bepanten" is given in the following video.
