Enstilar

What is Enstilar?

Enstilar is a foam treatment for psoriasis that combines two ingredients: betamethasone, which is a corticosteroid, and calcipotriol, a form of vitamin D. Both ingredients are thought to help improve psoriasis.

Vitamin D has an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin. In studies, low levels of it have been associated with psoriasis, and vitamin D therapy is often prescribed on its own or in combination with a corticosteroid to help manage the condition. Betamethasone is widely used to treat itchy, swollen skin. Along with psoriasis, it’s regularly prescribed for eczema and contact dermatitis.

How does Enstilar work?

Topical treatments are considered the mainstay of psoriasis management. Combining corticosteroids with vitamin D is often a first-line approach to treating psoriasis. Sometimes they’re prescribed separately. Enstilar combines both of these ingredients in a foam that can be rubbed directly into areas of dry, red, inflamed skin.

What doses of Enstilar are there?

Enstilar comes in 60g or 120g cans.

You only need to apply the foam once a day. You can use it at whatever time of day suits you, but you might find it works better in the evening if your psoriasis usually flares up at night or affects your sleep.

You’ll normally use Enstilar every day for up to four weeks, however, you might be advised to use it as part of a different dosage schedule or for longer. (If your psoriasis has almost cleared, Enstilar is sometimes prescribed after this four week period as a twice-weekly treatment, used on two non-consecutive days.)

Our medical team will help you decide the best way of using the foam to control your psoriasis.

How to use Enstilar

Enstilar can be used to treat psoriasis on both the body and on the scalp. It’s applied a little differently depending on how you’re using it.

To apply Enstilar on your body:

1. shake the can before you use it;
2. hold the can at least 3 cm away from your skin and spray;
3. apply it to any affected areas; and:
4. gently rub the foam into the skin you’re treating.

Each time you use the can, replace the cap to avoid accidentally spraying it. Wash your hands after every application so you don’t spread Enstilar to areas like your mouth and eyes.

To apply Enstilar on your scalp:

1. shake the can before you use it;
2. hold the can at least least 3 cm away;
3. spray the foam into the palm of your hand; and:
4. rub the foam into your scalp using your fingers.

When you’re using Enstilar for scalp psoriasis, try and avoid getting the foam in your hair where possible. When you’re washing your hair, applying a non-medicated shampoo to dry hair can help remove Enstilar. More information about this can be found in the patient information leaflet (PIL).

How long does Enstilar take to work?

We can’t say for sure how quickly your psoriasis will improve while using Enstilar. People respond differently to treatments, which means you might start to see the effects of the foam immediately, or it might take a little longer.

If you’re a few weeks into using the foam and you don’t think it’s working, you can message us.

There are lots of psoriasis treatments available, and often they’re combined for maximum effectiveness. The three different categories are topical, phototherapy and systemic treatments. Phototherapy involves exposing your skin to ultraviolet (UV) light, and systemic medications are taken orally, and sometimes injected. They work throughout your entire body, rather than targeting affected areas of inflamed skin.

If using Enstilar isn’t enough to improve your psoriasis, you can talk to us about other approaches to managing your condition.

What should I do if I make a mistake while using Enstilar?

You should use Enstilar exactly how your clinician has prescribed it. The foam is usually applied once a day. Each 60g can should last a minimum of 4 days — if you feel like it won’t, it’s usually a sign that you’re applying too much foam, or using it more often than you need to.

There’s no need to double up on your dose of Enstilar if you ever forget to use it at your usual time. If you’re thinking of stopping this treatment, it’s best to do it gradually, especially if you’ve been using it for a while.

Using Enstilar excessively has been known to raise calcium levels in the blood. If you’re using any other medications that contain calcipotriol, you should tell us before you start using Enstilar, to make sure you’re not taking more calcipotriol each day than is recommended (15 grams).