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Fucibet - Treat Inflamed & Infected Skin
Fucibet is a prescription-only medicine, designed to treat infected eczema and other bacterial skin infections. This treatment is a good option if normal corticosteroid eczema treatments aren’t reducing your skin’s inflammation or discomfort due to infection.
Fucibet cream is available to order online through The Independent Pharmacy — just complete a free online consultation for one of our medical experts to review and your treatment could arrive as soon as the very next day.
Fucibet Cream features
- Fucibet contains two active ingredients which work together to treat inflamed bacterial skin infections, such as eczema and dermatitis
- Betamethasone is a corticosteroid — a type of steroid that can help to control inflammation, swelling, and itching
- Fusidic acid is an antibiotic that helps to kill the bacteria responsible for infection
- Fucibet is fast-acting and rarely causes any side effects, making it one of the most popular prescription treatments for bacterial skin infections
- Suitable for age:18
- Maximum per order:2
- Consultation required?YesThis treatment requires an online consultation for review by our medical team. The decision to supply the specific treatment and quantity requested will be based on whether our medical team are satisfied that it will be safe, appropriate, and effective.
Type of medicine | Topical corticosteroid and antibiotic |
Works by | Reducing inflammation and destroying the bacteria responsible for infection |
Active ingredient | Fusidic acid and betamethasone |
Effective within | 1 - 3 days |
Pack size | 30g |
Strength | Fusidic acid 2% w/w and Betamethasone 0.1% w/w |
Manufacturer | Leo Laboratories |
Generic | No |
Use with alcohol | No known issues |
Fucibet Cream - Important Information
What is Fucibet Cream and what is it used for?
Fucibet cream is an infected eczema treatment that can be used to help the health of the skin when both inflammation and infection are present. It contains two active ingredients: fusidic acid and betamethasone. Fucibet works by using a dual mode of action; fusidic acid fights the infection whilst betamethasone relieves the inflammation and is applied topically. With its dual mechanism of action, Fucibet cream can also be used for other inflammatory skin conditions where an infection is also present.
Fucibet cream can be used for up to 2 weeks, however, if no improvement is seen after 7 days you should discontinue use and see your doctor. Using the cream for longer than 2 weeks increases the chance that bacteria will become resistant to it and it will be ineffective in the future.
Fucibet cream is manufactured by Leo Laboratories Limited and is classified as a prescription-only medicine (POM). It is available from The Independent Pharmacy for adults over the age of 18 years in 30-gram or 60-gram tubes.
How Fucibet cream works
The ingredient fusidic acid is the first active ingredient used in Fucibet cream, this is an antibiotic medicine. It is used to treat bacterial infections. It does this by stopping the production of new proteins within the bacteria. These proteins are essential to the bacteria, allowing them to multiply. Without these proteins, the infection is unable to increase or spread.
Fusidic acid doesn’t actively kill the bacteria itself. Once their ability to multiply has been halted, they will eventually die off or be killed by the body’s natural immune response. When eczema or dermatitis has become infected, creams with fusidic acid often provide effective treatment.
The other active ingredient in Fucibet, betamethasone, belongs to a group of medicines called topical corticosteroids. These are effective treatments for reducing the skin inflammation associated with eczema or dermatitis. Our body’s immune system can sometimes release chemicals and substances that can irritate the skin, causing the blood vessels to dilate (widen). This widening can result in the affected area(s) becoming red, painful, itchy or swollen.
Betamethasone works by penetrating inside the skin cells, reducing the release of these inflammatory-causing substances. This will, in turn, decrease the associated redness, swelling and itching – relieving the discomfort.
Fucibet cream is primarily used to treat inflamed skin where a bacterial infection is also present. The two active ingredients work well together for treating this form of eczema. The fusidic acid actively treats the infection, while the strong corticosteroid action of the betamethasone effectively reduces the associated inflammation and swelling. An experienced GP or pharmacist, such as the ones who work at The Independent Pharmacy, will be able to advise whether Fucibet cream is the right treatment for you.
You can read more about Fucibet cream and its uses here.
How to prevent skin infections
You can take steps to prevent infection by treating a flare-up of eczema as quickly as possible.
- Keep the skin moisturised with emollients
- Use steroid creams to manage flare-ups
- Avoid any irritants
- Try to resist itching the affected area. Scratching may cause the dry skin to split, leaving the body open to infection.
The difference between Fucibet and Fucidin H
Fucidin H Cream contains the steroid, hydrocortisone. It is a fairly similar treatment to Fucibet Cream, however, the steroid used in Fucibet Cream (betamethasone) is much more powerful. Fucidin H Cream also contains fusidic acid and is sometimes used in instances where the skin has become infected.
You can also buy Fucidin H Cream from The Independent Pharmacy following a short online consultation.
Fucibet cream for boils, burns and cysts
Fucibet cream should only be used to treat infected skin conditions caused by bacteria. It should NOT be used to treat spots, boils, cysts, impetigo, fungal infections like athlete’s foot, or viral infections like cold sores. Primarily, its use is to relieve conditions like infected outbreaks of eczema or dermatitis (not perioral).
Fucibet (being a topical antibiotic and corticosteroid combination) is not usually recommended for wounds and burns unless they have become infected.
Fucibet cream during pregnancy
Fucibet shouldn’t be used during pregnancy unless necessary - it would need to be prescribed by your GP. As for breastfeeding, the effects are thought to be negligible – since the fusidic acid and betamethasone are only topically applied to a limited area of skin.
Non-prescription alternatives for eczema can include:
- Moisturisers and emollients
- Bath and shower gels
- Cotton gloves (to keep from scratching)
- Antihistamine tablets (to ease the itching)
Sources
- Fucibet Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/983/pil
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/...
- https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/b...
How to use Fucibet cream
For adults over the age of 18 years: Apply Fucibet to the affected areas twice daily. For use in children or those under the age of 18 years, we recommend they see a doctor.
Wash your hands thoroughly before using this medicine, and unless you are using the cream to treat your hands, wash after application as well.Leave Fucibet cream to soak in for 30 minutes before applying other moisturisers or creams to ensure it is fully absorbed and not diluted.
The tube and its contents should be discarded after 3 months of opening. Do not throw medicines away in the household rubbish. They should be taken to any pharmacy free of charge where they will be disposed of responsibly.
For information on how much cream to use please read the Patient Information Leaflet.
Fucibet Cream ingredients
The active ingredients contained in Fucibet are: Fusidic acid 2%, betamethasone valerate 0.1%.
Fucibet also contains the following inactive ingredients: Macrogol cetostearyl ether, cetostearyl alcohol, chlorocresol, liquid paraffin, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, white soft paraffin, all-rac-a-tocopherols, purified water, sodium hydroxide
Fucibet Cream side effects
Not everyone will experience side effects when they use Fucibet cream, however, if you do they can include:
- Rash, itchy or inflamed skin at the site of application
- Excessive hair growth, also known as ‘hypertrichosis’
- Inflamed hair follicles, or ‘folliculitis’
If you are concerned about these effects, or if the product affects you in any other way, stop using it and talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
You can read more about Fucibet cream side effects here.
Fucibet cream warnings
Reading the following warnings carefully will help to ensure you are selecting an appropriate product.
This medicine is unsuitable for you if you are allergic to any of the cream’s ingredients.
Take care when using Fucibet over large areas or anywhere on the face, especially near the eyes.
Fucibet cream should not be used for any of the following conditions or diseases:
- Acne
- Perioral dermatitis (a rash around the mouth)
- Viral infections (e.g. cold sores, herpes, chickenpox)
- Bacterial infections which are unrelated to dermatitis
- Fungal infections (e.g. thrush, athlete’s foot)
- Rosacea (flushing of the skin around the nose)
- Perioral dermatitis (a rash around the mouth/chin)
- Conditions caused by syphilis or tuberculosis
- Fucibet cream should not be used on areas of the skin that are infected by anything other than eczema or dermatitis. This includes impetigo, thrush, nappy rash, rosacea, or viral infections, such as herpes (cold sores/genital herpes).
Please read all packaging and the Patient Information Leaflet before taking any new medicine and inform your doctor of medicines you are taking or intend to take.
Fucibet Cream reviews
Fucibet Cream FAQs
Fucibet cream contains fusidic acid 2% and betamethasone 0.1%. Fusidic acid is an antibiotic that helps to kill bacteria that cause infections and betamethasone is a steroid that helps to reduce redness, itching and inflammation.
Fucibet cream is used for cases where the skin is inflamed but there is also an infection present. This is usually in cases of infected eczema.
You can combine Fucibet cream with your normal emollient eczema treatments to keep your skin hydrated and prevent further irritation from drying and cracking. Fucibet should not be used with any other steroid or antibiotic creams as it may cause irritation to your skin and produce side effects.
Fucibet is a prescription-strength treatment for infected eczema. For that reason, to ensure the safety of our patients and the legal operating of our pharmacy, we only supply a maximum of two tubes of treatment at one time. Fucibet treatment is normally not used for more than 7-10 days, therefore two tubes should be more than sufficient for complete treatment of a large area.
Yes – we understand that sometimes you will want your treatment as soon as possible. If ordered before 4pm Monday to Friday, Fucibet is available for next-day delivery.
Yes – as long as you are buying from a website that is a legally operating and regulated pharmacy, it is perfectly safe to buy Fucibet online.
The Independent Pharmacy is a CQC-regulated, NHS-contracted Online Pharmacy based in Bristol and has all the necessary regulation to be able to safely provide convenient access to genuine prescription treatments through our Online Pharmacy and Online Doctor.
All of our eczema treatments are supplied by the same UK-based wholesalers used by the large high-street chains.
Here’s more information on how to buy medicine safely online.
It’s simple!
Just select ‘Start Consultation’ next to the product above, or on the links below.
You will need to fill in a simple health questionnaire so that our GPs and Pharmacists can ensure it is safe for us to supply your Fucibet to you. It only takes about three minutes, and your treatment can be delivered to your door.
There are many advantages to buying eczema treatments online, some include:
- It's quick and easy- there is no need to spend time at the doctor or pharmacy.
- Fast delivery- We offer same day dispatch before 4pm and fast delivery to your address of choice with Royal Mail.
- Great prices- we are able to offer very competitive prices and we guarantee to beat any other Online Doctor service.
- A wealth of information - we provide all the information you could need on Betnovate tablets and other eczema treatments, in easy to digest formats, at a time that suits you.
It is not recommended to use Fucibet while pregnant. This is because animal studies have shown that the active corticosteroid (betamethasone) can cause harm to unborn babies.
Discuss with your doctor whether your personal benefits of Fucibet outweigh these risks.
Fucibet can be used by mothers who are breastfeeding, as long as the cream is not applied directly to the breast.
Fucibet is well tolerated – there is no known interaction between Fucibet and other medication. If you should experience any undesired effects when taking this medication with another, please tell us and we would be happy to report it for you. You should not use Fucibet cream with any other creams that contain fusidic acid or other steroids such as betamethasone, hydrocortisone or clobetasone.
Do not use Fucibet:
- If you are allergic to any of its ingredients
- If you suffer from rosacea (a condition causing redness of the face and cheeks)
- On spots around the chin or mouth
- For skin infections that are not associated with outbreaks of eczema
- To treat acne
After treatment with Fucibet, the infection should have cleared and the eczema started to get better or calmed down completely.
To stop eczema outbreaks from recurring it is important to moisturise the skin regularly. Cosmetic moisturisers may have perfumes or colours added to them that can irritate the skin or encourage eczema. Most medical moisturisers (emollients) tend to be colour- and scent-free.
Emollients such as Dermol, Doublebase, Diprobase and Balneum all form a thin layer on the surface of the skin and prevent moisture loss. They are available as ointments, creams, lotions and bath additives.
Ointments tend to last longer but can be more 'greasy'.
Creams are absorbed easily but don’t tend to moisturise as well as ointments.
Lotions are great for hairy skin or for larger surface areas.
For further information on the different types of emollients available and when best to use them, visit our dedicated section on Eczema Treatments.
Blisters
Fucibet cream is sometimes prescribed for those who are suffering from painful blisters, particularly if they appear on the feet.Boils and bites
The cream is occasionally prescribed for patients who have boils, as the anti-inflammatory ingredients in Fucibet cream are excellent for reducing painful swelling or irritation. The same goes for particularly bad insect bites, such as bee or wasp stings.Pimples, spots and cysts
Fucibet cream is a common treatment for acne rosacea sufferers, particularly for those who have larger pimples or cysts that are sore and irritated, as it provides temporary anti-inflammatory relief.Cellulitis
An infection of the deeper layers of skin and underlying tissue, cellulitis is usually treated with antibiotics, but doctors may also prescribe Fucibet cream as a way of managing the condition, since it is an antibiotic topical treatment.Hemorrhoids and piles
Fucibet cream is not recommended for the treatment of hemorrhoids or piles, since it shouldn’t be used around or near the genital area. Likewise, it should also not be used for the treatment of thrush. If you think you have thrush, you would be better off with a specialist thrush treatment such as Canesten.Impetigo
Fucibet should not be used to treat bacterial skin infections such as impetigo. A bactericidal ointment such as Fucidin is a more appropriate treatment for impetigo.Scabies
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, Fucibet might be prescribed to relieve scabies symptoms, but your doctor is much more likely to recommend an insecticide cream like Lyclear to kill the mites that cause it.There are various health conditions that have also been found to be related to eczema, or to leave you more at risk.
Eczema also goes by the name ‘atopic dermatitis’ and frequently occurs alongside hay fever. Therefore, eczema can provide an early clue that someone is at risk for developing other allergies in the future – including asthma.
Eczema causes scaly patches of skin, which can sometimes be confused with ringworm. The distinction is that eczema patches aren't round or ring-like in appearance, and have a tendency to weep and itch, especially if the area is repeatedly scratched.
Vitiligo is another form of skin disorder characterized by an absence of pigment in certain areas of the skin. Not all eczema sufferers get vitiligo, but if they do, it often shows up in areas where eczema was particularly bad.
As for psoriasis, there is a clear link between the skin condition and a form of inflammatory arthritis called psoriatic arthritis.This happens because psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, so the body's immune system can mistakenly attack healthy tissue, including the joints as well as the skin.
Zinc deficiency is thought to be a common nutritional deficiency among eczema sufferers, particularly children. Vitamin A and D deficiencies can also cause zinc deficiency, since they aid the absorption of the mineral.
Other common causes of eczema include allergies, digestive disorders, immune deficiencies and nutritional deficiencies, particularly B vitamins.
Eczema often starts early in life, when the patient is a baby or toddler, primarily affecting the arms, neck, back and legs and appearing as irritated red patches of skin. Usually, the causes are linked to family history – the condition is not contagious, and will not pass on to other children from your baby. Fucibet is generally not prescribed for children under 5 years old, as the ingredients are very strong. At the Independent Pharmacy we don’t treat anyone under 18 – children need to be seen face-to-face by a doctor.
Fucibet is also not suitable for women who are pregnant.
Fucibet is not strictly designed as a cream to reduce scarring – it is an antibiotic treatment for infected eczema and associated conditions. Indirectly it will help to reduce scarring, as the relief it provides will reduce the impulse to itch.
Tattoos can sometimes become infected, also known as ‘chemical dermatitis’. If your tattoo is swollen, weeping or infected, your doctor may prescribe Fucibet cream as an antibiotic remedy to kill the bacterial infection. Always get your tattoo seen by a doctor if you are experiencing intense itching or it appears to be infected, and try not to itch, or you risk scarring.
Fucibet cream should not be used for athlete’s foot – this is a fungal infection and Fucibet cream is designed to treat bacterial infections only. Fucibet cream is unlikely to effectively treat athlete's foot, Daktarin cream or Lamsil would be more effective.
Fucibet cream could be prescribed to treat an insect bite, were it to get infected and start weeping. It would likely be prescribed along with an antihistamine.
Fucibet cream is NOT designed to treat spots and warts, unless there is some kind of bacterial infection present.
Cold sores are caused by a virus – specifically herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Fucibet cream would not be recommended for cold sores because it treats bacterial – not viral – infections.
As with athlete’s foot, ringworm is another type of fungal infection, for which you would not be prescribed Fucibet cream, since it is anti-bacterial – not anti-fungal. An appropriate treatment for ringowrm would be Daktarin cream.
Fucibet is not designed to reduce scarring – it is an antibiotic treatment for infected eczema and similar conditions. However, it can indirectly help to reduce scarring after infected skin condition by reducing the impulse to itch and helping the condition to clear quickly.
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Authored by
Scott is one of the two founders of The Independent Pharmacy. He is a registered pharmacist and the registered manager of our service with the CQC.
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