Fucidin Cream

Fucidin is a cream applied to the skin to treat infected eczema. It contains fusidic acid, an antibiotic that stops bacteria from spreading. Fusidic acid, the main ingredient in Fucidin, is used to help manage skin conditions with inflammation, such as impetigo, cellulitis, and infected eczema.

Infected eczema happens when bacteria get into already irritated skin, often through cracks or open wounds. Inflamed, itchy skin can make it hard to avoid scratching, which can worsen eczema. Scratching can break the skin, letting bacteria and fungi in. If a bacterial infection develops, you'll likely need treatment with an antibiotic like Fucidin, in addition to managing your eczema.

Fusidic acid mainly stops bacteria from spreading. It disrupts the bacteria's protein synthesis, which stops them from growing. This supports your immune system in fighting skin infections, helping your skin to heal.

Fucidin is effective for treating staphylococcal infections and is also strong against other gram-positive bacteria. It's intended for use on specific patches of infected eczema, which you can treat with the cream. If your eczema is infected in several areas or in spots that are difficult to reach, you might be advised to take oral antibiotics instead of using a topical cream.

Unlike oral antibiotics that affect your entire body, Fucidin is applied directly to the specific areas of your skin that are affected.

Atopic eczema, which is a common form of eczema,

It usually affects people in different ways. You might have dry, cracked skin in certain areas, or it could be more widespread. This often influences which treatment is best for you. Smaller patches of skin might respond well to creams like Fucidin or Fucidin H, which has a steroid and an antibiotic. Alternatively, antiseptic wash formulas like Hibiscrub could be effective, as they're gentle on irritated skin. This might be a better option if antibiotic creams tend to worsen your itchiness.

If your infected eczema is affecting multiple parts of your body, a clinician might suggest taking an oral antibiotic such as Clarithromycin or Flucloxacillin. These work throughout your entire system rather than just specific spots, which can sometimes help tackle bacteria faster than creams or ointments, as they don't need to be absorbed through your skin.

Fusidic acid has been used in Europe for more than 40 years to treat infections of the skin, bones, and joints.

It's known as an antistaphylococcal antibiotic. Staphylococcus aureus, often called 'staph', is a type of bacteria that frequently leads to infected eczema.

Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics available in various forms, such as oral tablets, capsules, and liquid suspensions, as well as topical creams. If your eczema is infected with staph bacteria, Fucidin can specifically target this type of bacteria, making it an effective treatment option.

Fucidin is a medicine that you can only get with a prescription. This means a healthcare professional needs to check that it's safe for you to use.

You can buy eczema treatments without a prescription from pharmacies and supermarkets, like Sudocrem and Savlon. These can help calm irritated skin and lessen itchiness. However, they might not be strong enough for infected eczema, in which case something like Fucidin may be required.

In addition to fusidic acid, Fucidin contains butylhydroxyanisole, potassium sorbate, and cetyl alcohol. These ingredients might temporarily increase itchiness and inflammation as your skin gets used to the cream.

If the itchiness and inflammation continue, it's a good idea to talk to a clinician about trying a different eczema treatment. These side effects are considered uncommon according to the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication, so you might not experience them.

Other side effects mentioned are conjunctivitis, hives, and skin blistering. However, these are quite rare and typically affect about one in a thousand people.