Pharmaceutical hand creams contain medications intended to relieve medical conditions or the discomfort caused by those conditions. Hand creams are topical ointments and how you purchase them depends on the type or amount of medication the ointment contains. Some pharmaceutical hand creams are bought over the counter, while others require a doctor's prescription. Hand creams usually contain familiar ingredients known to alleviate or cure specific problems.
Anti-Itching
Hand creams with hydrocortisone are used to alleviate itching, dryness or peeling. Your doctor might prescribe a hydrocortisone cream if you have irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis and insect bites. Antihistamine creams are used for skin conditions that cause itching. Antihistamines block the effect of chemicals called histamines, which cause itching. Derm Net NZ cautions that you should not use antihistamine creams on broken skin.
Analgesic
You might use analgesic creams to alleviate pain in your hands caused by conditions such as arthritis or pain that results from injury. MayoClinic.com notes that topical pain-relieving creams sold over the counter include ointments that use menthol or other ingredients to make your skin feel cold or hot. Other nonprescription creams contain salicylates, the pain-relieving ingredient in aspirin. Salicylate creams relieve pain and inflammation.
Chili pepper seeds provide the compound capsaicin found in creams used for arthritis pain. These creams cause a burning sensation and prevent your nerve cells from sending pain messages. Prescription gels contain diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-flammatory drug, or NSAID, used to relieve pain caused by osteoarthritis, especially in areas like the hands and wrists.
Antibiotic
You might use antibiotic hand creams to prevent or cure infection on your hands. Doctors prescribe antibiotic creams, such as silver sulfadiazine, for mild to serious burns to block bacteria from getting into the wound. Antibiotic creams might be used to protect a break in the skin caused by injury or a skin condition.
Member Comments