Hydrocortisone Cream

There is a wonderful product that is very helpful in burns such as radiation burns, cuts and abrasions in fact I use it quite a lot for scrapes and cuts, though it is VERY messy and stains everything it comes in contact with. It is called Gentian Violet, available in the pharmacy or some health food stores. This product was recommended to a friend who was having rads. and it quickly alleviated the burns. At the beginning of treatment, before you have any side effects, moisturize the skin after your daily treatment with an ointment such as A&D, Eucerin, Aquaphor, Biafene, Radiacare, aloe preparation, vitamin E cream, or emu oil. Some people get some relief by blowing air on the area with a hair dryer set to "cool" or "air" (no heat). Be careful wearing a bra if there are raw areas. Perhaps try soft bras.

If your skin becomes dry and flakey during the course of your treatment, moisturize frequently and cleanse skin gently.

For mild pinkness, itching, and burning, apply an aloe vera preparation or non-prescription 1% hydrocortisone cream thinly over the affected area. Your physician may prescribe lidocaine cream which helps the burning feeling.

If areas become red, itchy, sore, and starts to burn, and low-potency cream no longer relieves your symptoms, ask your doctor for a stronger steroid cream available by prescription. Examples include 2.5% hydrocortisone cream and bethamethasone.

If your skin forms a blister, leave the the blister alone. The blister keeps the area clean while the new skin grows back underneath. Try to keep the area relatively dry washing with warm water. Then apply a non–adherent dressing, such as Xeroform dressings (laden with soothing petroleum jelly) or "second skin" dressings made by several companies. For pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever (acetominophin), or ask your doctor for a prescription if you need it.

For more severe burn reactions, a typical treatment includes pain pills and silvadene prescribed by the physician. Apply silvadene to the burned skin with pads to cover the area. The pads my be wrapped with gauze.

Hives, also known as urticaria, are flat topped bumps, called wheals or welts, that swell and are redder than the surrounding skin and itchy. The welts vary in size and may join together and form larger areas. Unique to hives is the fact that they change shape, go away, and then crop up later on different parts of the body. Hives may appear suddenly. Hives are caused by insect bites, medications, or foods and are the result of the release of histamine from cells in the skin. Hives usually last 24 hours.

Hives around the face, especially the lips and eyes, is called angiodema. Swelling from angioedema may also be seen in throat, hands, and feet.

Hives may be the first sign of an anaphylactic reaction, which is a severe allegic reaction that is life threatening. If any of the following symptoms appear after hives, seek emergency treatment immediately: shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, your tongue swells, nausea, weakness, and confusion.

Here are a couple of other resources on hives:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000845.htm#Definition
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001848/
Hives, also known as urticaria, are flat topped bumps, called wheals or welts, that swell and are redder than the surrounding skin and itchy. The welts vary in size and may join together and form larger areas. Unique to hives is the fact that they change shape, go away, and then crop up later on different parts of the body. Hives may appear suddenly. Hives are caused by insect bites, medications, or foods and are the result of the release of histamine from cells in the skin. Hives usually last 24 hours.

Hives around the face, especially the lips and eyes, is called angiodema. Swelling from angioedema may also be seen in throat, hands, and feet.

Hives may be the first sign of an anaphylactic reaction, which is a severe allegic reaction that is life threatening. If any of the following symptoms appear after hives, seek emergency treatment immediately: shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, your tongue swells, nausea, weakness, and confusion.

Here are a couple of other resources on hives:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000845.htm#Definition
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001848/

Some tips to help deal with the rash from Docetaxel (Taxotere):
- Shower in lukewarm water with a mild soap containing no perfume to reduce irritation and pat dry.
- Don’t rub your skin and avoid scratching.
- Wear loose clothes made of cotton, tight clothes can rub and irritate a rash.
- Protect your skin with clothing and sunscreen when outdoors.
- Stop using perfumes, perfumed body lotions, as well as powders, body oils, and creams that could make the rash worse.
- It is important to also protect your nails. Wearing gloves is advised especially during chores.

Over the counter treatment options that may help include:
- Hydrocortisone cream (Cortisone).
- Diphenhydramine cream (Benadryl) for itching.

Prescription options may include:
- Stronger steroid creams to alleviate itching. Some tips to help deal with the rash from Docetaxel (Taxotere):
- Shower in lukewarm water with a mild soap containing no perfume to reduce irritation and pat dry.
- Don’t rub your skin and avoid scratching.
- Wear loose clothes made of cotton, tight clothes can rub and irritate a rash.
- Protect your skin with clothing and sunscreen when outdoors.
- Stop using perfumes, perfumed body lotions, as well as powders, body oils, and creams that could make the rash worse.
- It is important to also protect your nails. Wearing gloves is advised especially during chores.

Over the counter treatment options that may help include:
- Hydrocortisone cream (Cortisone).
- Diphenhydramine cream (Benadryl) for itching.

Prescription options may include:
- Stronger steroid creams to alleviate itching.

Too much hot water may damage GI tract soft lining. Potential causes of diarrhea are:
- cancer medications
- bacteria, viruses, parasites
- some foods
- diseases that affect the digestive system.

Consult a physician if you are dehydrated, have abdominal or rectal pain, have a fever, or blood in your stool.

Hives are patches of edema (swelling) that occur on the skin surface. Hives are swollen areas of the skin that are red and itch. Hives may change shape, go away, and reappear. Hives commonly appear in the upper arms, legs, neck, and sides of the body.

Treatment
- For mild symptoms treatment may not be needed
- Avoid the offending agent causing the hives
- Cool soaks

- Over the counter treatment includes
- Antihistamines topically or orally;
- Anti-inflammatory medicines (corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone cream topically or oral agents)

For moderate to severe symptoms which include breathing difficulty, emergency treatment should be initiated.
Epi-pen (Epinephrine) may be administered. Hives are patches of edema (swelling) that occur on the skin surface. Hives are swollen areas of the skin that are red and itch. Hives may change shape, go away, and reappear. Hives commonly appear in the upper arms, legs, neck, and sides of the body.

Treatment
- For mild symptoms treatment may not be needed
- Avoid the offending agent causing the hives
- Cool soaks

- Over the counter treatment includes
- Antihistamines topically or orally;
- Anti-inflammatory medicines (corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone cream topically or oral agents)

For moderate to severe symptoms which include breathing difficulty, emergency treatment should be initiated.
Epi-pen (Epinephrine) may be administered.

Diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements of watery loose stools.

If diarrhea lasts for more than a couple of days, contact your physician.

One of the primary risks of diarrhea is dehydration due to loss of fluids in bowel movements. Diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements of watery loose stools.

If diarrhea lasts for more than a couple of days, contact your physician.

One of the primary risks of diarrhea is dehydration due to loss of fluids in bowel movements.

Replacing lost fluids is the first thing that should be treated. Drink water, gatorade, etc.

Over the counter medications for diarrhea include:
- loperamide (Imodium)
- bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol)
- lactinex, acidophilus (probiotics)

It is important to only take over the counter medications for 2 days and if the symptoms get worse or diarrhea lasts longer, consult with your physician.

For burning and itching around the anus, over-the-counter treatments include healing creams, ointments, suppositories, and pads to alleviate the anal discomfort. These treatments may contain ingredients such as witch hazel (Tucks pads) or hydrocortisone that relieve pain and itching.

An oral prescription medication that may be prescribed is Lomotil / Diphenoxylate if the diarrhea is out of control.

If a patient is in the hospital for diarrhea, they will likely receive an IV to replace lost fluids. Replacing lost fluids is the first thing that should be treated. Drink water, gatorade, etc.

Over the counter medications for diarrhea include:
- loperamide (Imodium)
- bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol)
- lactinex, acidophilus (probiotics)

It is important to only take over the counter medications for 2 days and if the symptoms get worse or diarrhea lasts longer, consult with your physician.

For burning and itching around the anus, over-the-counter treatments include healing creams, ointments, suppositories, and pads to alleviate the anal discomfort. These treatments may contain ingredients such as witch hazel (Tucks pads) or hydrocortisone that relieve pain and itching.

An oral prescription medication that may be prescribed is Lomotil / Diphenoxylate if the diarrhea is out of control.

If a patient is in the hospital for diarrhea, they will likely receive an IV to replace lost fluids.

Potential symptoms of diarrhea are:

- stomach cramps and gas pain
- abdominal swelling
- urgent or uncontrollable bowel movements
- loose bowels
- chills and fever Potential symptoms of diarrhea are:

- stomach cramps and gas pain
- abdominal swelling
- urgent or uncontrollable bowel movements
- loose bowels
- chills and fever