Eumovate

What is Eumovate?

Eumovate is a topical corticosteroid that contains a medicine called clobetasol butyrate. It belongs to a group of moderately potent topical steroids. It helps with symptoms caused by a range of mild skin diseases. For lichen planus, it can reduce swelling, irritation, itchiness, and redness. It can also help reduce inflammation of the outer ear.

Lichen planus is a skin condition that causes itchy, reddish-purple, raised, and flat bumps on the body. Using topical treatments like corticosteroids can help manage these symptoms, but lichen planus can usually clear up by itself between nine and eighteen months.

How does Eumovate work?

When your skin becomes inflamed, itchy, and red, it can often be due to an allergic reaction. This means your immune system has been triggered by something, causing certain chemicals and proteins (cytokines) to be released, which provokes your skin to become swollen and irritated. Topical corticosteroids like Eumovate help to reduce this inflammation in a few different ways:

• By reducing the number of certain immune cells
• By stopping other cells from moving to places they’re not needed
• By preventing the production of certain chemicals.

This helps suppress and alleviate lichen planus symptoms such as itchiness, inflammation, redness, and swelling.

Which Eumovate is right for me?

Eumovate is available as a cream or an ointment. The cream is better for skin that’s moist or weeping, whereas the ointment is thicker and greasier, so it’s better for dry or flaky skin. Once your clinician has examined the affected areas of your skin, they’ll be able to recommend which ones are best for you.

What dose does Eumovate come in?

Eumovate is only available as a 0.05% w/w of clobetasone butyrate. Each gram contains 0.5 mg of clobetasone and is available in either a 30g or 100g tube.

How to use Eumovate

To use Eumovate:

• wash your hands before and after applying
• use one fingertip unit for each affected area
• apply a thin layer twice a day, until your skin gets better
• gently rub into your skin until it’s disappeared
• if you’re applying a moisturiser as well, wait for the Eumovate to be absorbed first

How long does Eumovate take to work?

For most cases of lichen planus, it can clear up by itself within nine to eighteen months. If you’ve been prescribed Eumovate for lichen planus, you may have a mild to moderate case of it. Using a topical corticosteroid can help speed up this healing process. Usually, after it’s cleared up, the rash won’t return, so it’s best to follow the guidelines given by your clinician. Usually, an active ingredient like clobetasone can start to work in a few days, but you shouldn’t use it for longer than four weeks.

Although it’s not as strong as other corticosteroids, it works directly on the skin and can help manage your lichen planus rash gradually.

What happens if I make a mistake using Eumovate?

If you apply too much or accidentally ingest it, seek urgent medical attention. If you forget to apply Eumovate, use it as soon as you remember, but if it’s close to the next time you were supposed to apply it, just wait until then. You should use it exactly as your clinician has suggested because if you stop suddenly it can make your rash worse.