Bepanten has established itself as a highly effective topical remedy for many types of skin lesions. Can such a medicine be used in infants when it is necessary, are there any restrictions on the use of Bepanten in children?
Release form
Bepanten ointment is an opaque homogeneous substance that has a slight lanolin odor. One tube contains 30 g of this elastic soft mass with a pale yellow tint. Larger tubes are also available, containing 100 g of ointment.
Note that Bepanten is also produced in the form of a cream, which is a white homogeneous substance with 5% dexpanthenol content. Such a cream is also presented in two packaging options - 30 g and 100 g. In addition, a drug called Bepanten plus is found in pharmacies, the composition of which differs from the usual Bepanten. This is also a cream packed in tubes of 30 and 100 g.
Composition
The component due to which Bepanten has a therapeutic effect is dexpanthenol. This substance contains 50 mg in each gram of ointment. Additionally, alcohols (stearyl, cetyl), lanolin and liquid paraffin are added to the preparation. Also, Bepanten ointment contains water, almond oil, a substance called Protegin X, white wax and soft paraffin.
The difference between the drug Bepanten plus is the presence in the composition of the second active substance, which is chlorhexidine. Since it has an antiseptic effect, this cream is often prescribed for skin infections.
Operating principle
When applied externally, the ointment is quickly absorbed.
Once in the skin cells, dexpanthenol from Bepanten is converted into vitamin B5, which is also called pantothenic acid.
This vitamin is important for the normal condition of the skin and is involved in metabolic processes that occur in the skin. It has properties to stimulate skin regeneration and healing, as well as to moisturize it and prevent drying out.
Indications
Bepanten ointment is used:
- With diaper dermatitis.
- With diaper rash.
- For minor thermal burns.
- With abrasions.
- If skin irritation occurs, such as prickly heat or contact dermatitis.
- After sunburn.
- With diathesis, which is manifested by severe dryness, redness and peeling.
- With a slight frostbite on the cheeks.
- With ulcerative skin lesions that do not heal for a long time.
- When bedsores appear.
- With shingles.
- After skin grafting.
In addition, it is used to soften the skin, relieve itching and heal faster for chickenpox, insect bites and bruises. Bepanten can also be used to lubricate lips when chapped, cracked or cold sores. Moms use such a drug for cracked nipples and for cosmetic purposes.
At what age can you?
External use of Bepanten ointment is allowed from birth, as confirmed by clinical trials. Such a drug can be safely used in babies up to a year, for example, if irritation appears on the skin of a month-old baby due to a diaper. It is worth consulting a doctor about the use of Bepanten in case of extensive skin lesions, its infection and the absence of a therapeutic effect from lubrication within 2 weeks.
Contraindications
Instructions for the use of Bepanten prohibits the use of such an ointment only with individual hypersensitivity to any of its components. Also, its use is not recommended for skin infection.
Side effects
In very rare cases, the child's body can react to the use of Bepanten with itching or hives. If such an allergy occurs, the product must be immediately canceled.
Instructions for use and dosage
- Bepanten ointment should be applied exclusively externally. The medicine is applied to the cleansed skin of a small patient 1 or 2 times a day, gently rubbing the product until it is completely absorbed.
- The frequency of treatment and the amount of ointment used are adjusted by the doctor depending on the reason for using Bepanten.
- If the drug is applied to an infant with a diaper rash, then the skin is treated during each diaper or diaper change. It is advisable that the product does not get into the intimate place of the baby, but if this happens, there are often no negative effects.
- When Bepanten is required to smear the face, it is important to prevent the ointment from getting on the conjunctiva. If the drug gets into the eye, wash it off immediately with plenty of clean water.
Overdose
As studies of the drug have shown, even high doses of Bepanten do not lead to the development of hypervitaminosis or other negative reactions.
Interaction with other medications
Bepanten in the form of an ointment has no effect on treatment with other drugs.
Terms of sale
Bepanten, both in the form of an ointment and in the form of a cream, can be purchased without problems at the pharmacy, since these are over-the-counter products. The average cost of a tube weighing 30 g is 350-450 rubles.
Storage conditions and shelf life
So that the ointment does not lose its properties and does not deteriorate, the Bepanten tube must be kept in a dry place, and the storage temperature should not rise above +25 degrees. The shelf life of the drug is 3 years.
Reviews
The good healing effect of Bepanten in the treatment of baby skin is confirmed by almost all the reviews of parents who used it for atopic dermatitis, diaper rash or other problems with baby skin. In most cases, they are satisfied with the drug, noting its safety for children and ease of use.
According to mums, the ointment is easy to apply and rinse off if necessary, without leaving any stains on clothes or hands. They also emphasize that after lubrication with Bepanten, the treated skin is well moisturized, and minor damages disappear rather quickly.
Among the shortcomings, the high price of the ointment is often mentioned, which is why some parents prefer similar products with a lower cost.
In addition, many mothers find the ointment too viscous and oily, so they switch to using a cream.
Analogs
Instead of Bepanten ointment, the child's skin can be treated with another form of this medicine - a cream. This option is best for very dry skin as it absorbs more easily and moisturizes well. In addition, the cream is more convenient to use for treating the skin of the face, including for prophylactic purposes (to protect against frost and wind).
Any other skin products containing dexpanthenol can also replace Bepanten. For example, D-Panthenol cream or ointment, Pantoderm ointment, Dexpanthenol ointment or Panthenolspray aerosol. Also, an alternative to the use of Bepanten can be other medicines that have a similar effect on the skin. Such drugs can be called Sudocrem, Desitin or Drapolen.
You can see the advertisement of the drug in the following video.
