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AproDerm® Gel is an occlusive, leave-on emollient gel with humectant properties that soothes, moisturises and protects skin suffering from Eczema, Psoriasis and other Dry Skin Conditions. Formulated with Liquid Paraffin (15%) and Isopropyl Myristate (15%), AproDerm® Gel is a highly moisturising emollient gel without the greasiness of an ointment, that actively draws and retains moisture within the skin and provides a protective barrier to help reduce dryness and irritation.

Drug Tariff listed, AproDerm® Gel can be readily prescribed and is available as a 500g pump dispenser as well as a 100g tube.

Developed with the patient in mind, AproDerm® Gel :

  • Is suitable from Birth
  • Soothes, hydrates and protects the skin of those suffering from Eczema, Psoriasis & other Dry Skin Conditions
  • Highly moisturising without the greasiness of an ointment
  • Has a greater emollient effect than a cream
  • Hydrating with a cooling effect as the gel evaporates
  • Can also be used as a pre-bathing emollient to prevent the skin from drying out further
  • Provides symptomatic relief for dry, red, inflamed or damaged skin
  • Up to 32%1 more cost-effective than similar brands on the market
  • Suitable for Vegans
  • Not tested on animals
  • Dermatologically tested

Key Benefits

  • Suitable from Birth
  • AproDerm® Gel is free from SLS, parabens, triethanolamine, fragrances and colours, these excipients are recognised potential irritants and sensitisers as listed by MIMS2. They can be found in many emollients and can aggravate already sensitive skin causing reactions that result in the development of skin inflammation and itchiness. This would encourage a patient to scratch their skin preventing it from repairing and could cause further damage which is why these excipients are absent from AproDerm® Gel hence it can be considered that the risk of a reaction to a patient will be greatly reduced thus aiding compliance.

An irritant is a substance that causes inflammation to the body in a non-immune way and can affect anyone who comes into contact with sufficient amounts of it for long enough, however those with atopic eczema are more sensitive to irritants. The skin can react straight away (immediate response) or after a period of repeated exposure. Irritants remove moisture (by affecting Natural Moisturising Factor) and oils from the outer skin layer allowing pathogens, irritants and allergens to enter the skin causing inflammation and further damage.

A skin sensitiser is a chemical that will cause an allergic reaction when exposed to the skin and, unlike an irritant, it will only affect those who are allergic to it. The initial exposure will not cause a reaction but continued exposure can and once a person has been sensitised to a product, contact with even a small amount of it will cause a reaction. The two conditions allergic and irritant dermatitis may coexist.

Symptoms typically seen include skin which can be red, swollen, blistered, dry, thickened, intensely itchy and cracked depending on whether the reaction is acute or chronic.

For a full list of potential sensitisers found in emollients click here

  • A highly moisturising emollient gel without the greasiness of an ointment. Some patients may find ointments unpleasant to apply as they can make clothes greasy and therefore they may be less likely to continue using them.
  • Greater emolliency than a cream with a cooling effect as the gel evaporates.
  • Has humectant properties and so actively draws and retains moisture within the skin and provides a protective barrier thus helping to reduce dryness and irritation.
  • Softens, hydrates and protects the skin.
  • Up to 32%1 more cost-effective than similar brands on the market as illustrated in Table 1:
Product Suitable from Birth SLS Free Parabens Free Triethanolamine free Fragrance Free Colour Free Pack Size Price1
AproDerm® Gel green_tick green_tick green_tick green_tick green_tick green_tick 500g £3.99
Doublebase® Gel green_tick green_tick green_tick green_tick green_tick green_tick 500g £5.83
Zerodouble® Gel < 1 year use
under medical
supervision		 green_tick green_tick green_tick green_tick green_tick 500g £4.90
MyriBase® Gel green_tick green_tick green_tick green_tick green_tick green_tick 500ml £4.66

Table 1: Comparison of Aproderm® Gel with similar prescribed emollient products3

Indications & Uses

AproDerm® Gel:

  • Is suitable from Birth
  • Soothes, hydrates and protects the skin of those suffering from Eczema, Psoriasis & other Dry Skin Conditions
  • Can be used as a pre-bathing emollient to prevent the skin from drying out further
  • Provides symptomatic relief for dry, red, inflamed or damaged skin
  • Can be used by those sensitive to SLS, halogens, fragrances, colours and triethanolamine
  • Suitable for those with parabens sensitisation

Pack Size

The AproDerm® Gel Range:

Product Pack Size PIP Code Price1
AproDerm® Gel 100g 402-7553 £1.99
AproDerm® Gel 500g 402-7546 £3.99

Key Points to Recommend to Patients

Patient compliance is crucial to successful emollient therapy and studies have shown that educating patients (and parents or carers of children) about the causes of their condition and correct emollient application improves outcomes significantly. In addition to this, NICE Clinical Guideline 57 “Management of atopic eczema in children from birth up to the age of 12 years” also advises that they (patient and parent or carer) be educated by healthcare professionals on quantity and frequency of use of treatments,
flare-ups and their management (using the stepped approach plan) and the recognition and treatment of infections.

Some key points to cover with your patient during consultation are:

  • Information on eczema, psoriasis and other dry skin conditions. View or print Eczema, Psoriasis and other Dry Skin Conditions PDFs for patients.
  • AproDerm® Gel should not be prescribed if the patient has a known allergy or sensitivity to any of the listed ingredients or be used on infected areas of skin.
  • As with all emollients, before applying AproDerm® Gel for the first time patients should test it on a small area of skin and leave for 48 hours. If there is no reaction or irritation they can then apply all over the affected area. This limits any potential reaction to a small area.
  • AproDerm® Gel should be applied regularly, liberally and frequently to the affected area, using gentle downward strokes, following the direction of hair growth. It is important to remind patients that they should not rub the gel into the skin as rubbing can cause further irritation and itching (by generating heat) and can also cause folliculitis (as a result of blocking the hair follicles and causing their inflammation).
  • Frequency of application will be determined by severity of the condition and whether more than one emollient is being used. As a general guide it is recommended that AproDerm® Gel should be applied liberally to the affected areas of the skin on a regular basis and as often as required. The gel can also be used before and after bathing to alleviate the drying effects of bathing.
  • Patients should also be reminded to continue applying AproDerm® Gel once their skin has improved to prevent the risk of flare-ups.
  • Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is unlikely to have any ill effects when the product is used as directed.

 

For further information on emollient application visit our How to Apply page. Other useful information for your patients can be found in our printable Tips and Advice section.

Ingredients & Storage

AproDerm® Gel contains:

Active Ingredients: Liquid Paraffin (15%) and Isopropyl Myristate (15%)

Other Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate-20, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin.

Storage:

Store below 25°C. Do not refrigerate or freeze.

Please note: Emollients containing paraffin can be easily ignited with a naked flame. If the product comes into contact with dressings and clothes they can be more easily ignited with a naked flame or a lit cigarette etc. Remind patients that they should keep away from fire when using these types of emollients. As a precaution clothes and dressings etc should be changed frequently and laundered thoroughly. For further information visit the Gov.uk Website

AproDerm® Gel is for external use only, if your patient accidentally swallows some of it they should seek medical advice immediately.

REPORT AN ADVERSE REACTION

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1 Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (DM+D) February 2019 [Accessed on 13 February] 2019 | 2 Mims.co.uk. (2019). Emollients, Potential Skin Sensitisers as Ingredients. [online] Available at: https://www.mims.co.uk/emollients-potential-skin-sensitisers-ingredients/dermatology/article/882437 [Accessed on 19 February 2019] | 3 Data on file.