What is HC45 Hydrocortisone Cream and what is it used for?

HC45 Hydrocortisone Cream is a topical cream that contains the steroid hydrocortisone acetate, which reduces skin inflammation resulting from allergy or irritation. This cream quickly soothes symptoms associated with a range of skin reactions, insect bites, stings and mild to moderate eczema.

HC45 Cream has been specially formulated by skincare experts at E45 and comes in a 15g size. It can be used to treat itching, irritation and inflammation of the skin in adults and children over the age of 10 years for up to 10 days.

How does HC45 Hydrocortisone Cream work?

Skin inflammation usually results from an allergy or irritation caused by the immune system’s release of histamine. Histamine causes the blood vessels to widen and results in skin that is red, swollen, itchy and painful. When applied to the skin, the active ingredient hydrocortisone acts inside the skin cells to decrease histamine’s release. This reduces swelling, redness and itching.

What is eczema?

Eczema is a group of skin conditions that lead to irritated and dry skin. The condition can manifest in a variety of ways, including:

• Red, brown, grey or purple patches on your skin
• Leaking and crusting bumps on your skin
• Small and rough bumps on your skin
• Thick, leathery patches of skin
• Swelling and warmth of skin
• Dry and scaly areas of skin

Eczema is one of the most common skin issues, with the National Eczema Society noting that the condition affects 10% of adults and 20% of children in the UK.

Can eczema go away on its own?

If eczema is left untreated it can lead to a skin infection. This can lead to serious issues, such as sepsis (which can be life-threatening) and corneal infections (which could lead to blindness).

While there’s no cure for the condition and it doesn’t go away without attention, there are a number of treatments you can take to get rid of eczema. These include skin creams, hydrocortisone 1%, steroid creams, topical corticosteroids and antihistamine tablets.

Alternatives to HC45 Hydrocortisone Cream

Treating inflamed, itchy or irritated skin can be challenging. Most people find treating skin conditions such as eczema or dermatitis with emollients or moisturisers can be very effective. These are some of the steroid creams and ointments you can use:

• Betamethasone 0.1% Cream & Ointment
• Betnovate Cream & Ointment
• Eumovate Cream & Ointment

For more information about eczema and dermatitis and treatment options please take a look at our Advice for Eczema and Dermatitis page.

If you are looking for a treatment for skin irritation due to an allergic reaction or insect bite or sting, at The Independent Pharmacy we stock a range of antihistamine tablets and liquids such as Piriton and Cetirizine that can be used as an alternative treatment or alongside HC45 Cream to help reduce inflammation and itching.