Alphatrex Cream Description

The longer days and warm nights of summer are filled with hiking, swimming, picnics, bug bites, stings, and painful rashes from a run-in with poison ivy or oak. Alphatrex Cream (also called Diprosone) can be applied topically to affected skin areas to help soothe itchy, red, inflamed skin so it is just another summer memory as well as help calm down flare-ups of eczema and psoriasis.

What is Alphatrex Cream and How Does it Work?

Alphatrex Cream contains a potent, man-made corticosteroid called Betamethasone Dipropionate that mimics your body’s own cortisol, an important hormone for regulating many processes, including your metabolism and immune response. When eczema or psoriasis triggers a flare-up, you begin itching the dry, scaly patches of skin that are now inflamed and painful.

When applied topically as directed, Alphatrex Cream will work to suppress your body’s immune response to bites, sting, rashes, and eczema or psoriasis triggers. As it becomes absorbed, the corticosteroid acts inside your cells to reduce the release of the inflammatory chemicals that cause the pain and itching. Inflammation is your body’s way of healing, however, inflammation causes more inflammation and you are at risk for infection as you scratch the skin areas so often and hard that you create a lesion where bacteria can enter.

Conditions Treated by Alphatrex Cream

Psoriasis is not curable, but there are medications that can reduce the symptoms during a flare-up. It is believed that psoriasis is an autoimmune disease which means your immune system tends to go a little haywire and cause your skin cell cycle to increase. Usually, skin cells replace themselves every 28 or 30 days and are in sync with the old skin cells that will die and slough off to make room for the new cells.

When your immune system acts up, the process of new skin cells being processed is sped up and they are emerging every 3 to 6 days causing them to build up on, and just under, your skin as the old cells have not had a chance to slough off. These are the raised, scaly patches that gather on different areas of your skin. With Alphatrex Cream suppressing your immune system, your skin cell cycle is better controlled.

Before Alphatrex Cream is Prescribed

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast feeding before applying Alphatrex Cream as it may be harmful to your nursing or unborn baby. Explain other medical conditions or allergies you have to your doctor and list any OTC or Rx drugs you currently take or use, including herbal remedies and vitamin supplements. It can then be determined if Alphatrex Cream is right for you.

Precautions for Alphatrex Cream

As this is a potent topical corticosteroid, your doctor may advise only applying Alphatrex Cream during flare-ups and use a lower potency product as a maintenance treatment. Do not apply more than prescribed and do not cover the treated area with bandages or dressings unless told otherwise by your doctor. If there is no improvement after 2-4 weeks, revisit your doctor before continuing with Alphatrex Cream.

Possible Side Effects of Alphatrex Cream

• Burning after applying
• Stinging sensation
• Increased itching

Drugs Similar to Alphatrex Cream

• Locoid Lipocream
• Temovate Cream
• Calmurid HC Cream