
Your system naturally makes a hormone called cortisol. This is a steroidal hormones and is widely labelled as one of the hormones related to handling stress. Your body may also release it whenever your blood sugar level changes in a drastic manner. Cortisol blocks immune cells from causing reactions such as inflammation. The artificial or lab-made form of this steroid is known as hydrocortisone. In this milieu, can you use hydrocortisone cream for sunburn? It pays to understand this in greater detail.
Cortisol is one of the steroidal hormones your body makes from the adrenal gland. The extent of its discharge is managed by a portion of the cerebral system. This portion is called hypothalamus. You need to know cortisol is critical to management of stresses. Hydrocortisone is a man-made version of this naturally forming substance.
So, what is hydrocortisone?
This steroidal drug is prescribed if naturally forming corticosteroids decrease to an insufficient amount. You need to remember that hydrocortisone is also administered to treat other disorders among people with adequate supply this corticosteroid. Disorders hydrocortisone treats include different kind of autoimmune problems like arthritis, lupus, a few allergic conditions, etc.
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Essential chemicals of this drug can change how your body responds to stress levels. The key to its action rests with the manner in which immunity system erects defense against factors of stress. Hydrocortisone is grouped under a family of drugs known as corticosteroids.
Hydrocortisone cream for sunburn
Hydrocortisone cream is used for various types of skin problems like dermatitis, insect bites / bee stings, eczema, itchy feeling in the genitals of women, itchy anal tract, etc. Cream form of hydrocortisone is also used for treating sunburn. This med is available as an over the counter offering. In other words, you do not require a prescription from a caregiver to procure this cream.
Those with prior spells of hypersensitivity or allergies to hydrocortisone cream must inform their doctor of such conditions. Your caregiving team may prescribe safer alternatives to manage sunburn. You may also try home remedies or natural products such as aloe vera to treat sunburn. It is a good practice to use cool compress to treat this skin condition.
Points you need to know while using hydrocortisone cream
This med alters how your body uses as well as stores up fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Key ingredients of hydrocortisone cream also have an impact on maintaining a right balance between bodily fluids (like water) and minerals / salts such as electrolytes.
Use of hydrocortisone may cause adverse side effects or undesired interactions when administered with antiepileptic drugs or antiseizure meds. Hence it becomes necessary to tell your caregiver of all the meds you are presently taking. If your dosage plans include use of phenobarbital or phenytoin, your treating physician must know of all such treatment.
Those who are taking antibiotic drugs such as rifampin need to know of the potential risks. Intake of rifampin may decrease the level of absorption of hydrocortisone. Similar to other corticosteroids, hydrocortisone may trigger some undesired, harmful outcomes. These side effects may show up as dryness of your skin or an itchy skin, tingling feeling, etc.
Key ingredients of this corticosteroid can change your skin color. Upon seeing such effects to persist for a few weeks, you are advised to meet with your treating physician without much delay. In some one-off instances, hydrocortisone can cause some very severely adverse outcomes.
Severe side effects can show up as mental problems like depression or mood shifts, turning highly restless, agitation, anxieties, abnormal heart beats, erratic pulse rates, etc. On developing one or more of such adverse outcomes, reach out to 911 or a nearest healthcare facility on a top priority basis.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.
Education: Master’s in Clinical Nutrition from Tufts University. Experience: 6 years of experience as a registered dietitian and freelance writer, creating content on nutritional science and weight management for various health websites.