LENIRIT*DERM CREAM 20G 0.5%

Lenirit 0.5% Cream
Hydrocortisone acetate

What it is and what it is used for
Lenirit contains the active ingredient hydrocortisone acetate, a corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and anti-itch activity.

Lenirit is used in the treatment of insect bites, itching, localized erythema or burns, and eczema (inflammatory skin reactions with itching).

Consult your doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after 7 days.

What you need to know before taking the medicine
Do not use Lenirit
- if you are allergic to hydrocortisone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6);
- if you have a skin infection or disease caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi;
- on skin ulcers, wounds, or skin tumors;
- on facial skin, the anogenital area, or extensive lesions;
- to treat infectious diseases (such as syphilis), viral infectious diseases (such as herpes and chickenpox), rashes localized around the mouth and nose, acne, rosacea, skin reactions after vaccination, pustular psoriasis;
- in neonates and children under 2 years of age.

Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before using Lenirit if you:
- are elderly (especially if you suffer from osteoporosis, high blood pressure, low blood potassium levels, diabetes mellitus);
- suffer from subcutaneous atrophy (thinning of subcutaneous tissues);
- suffer from liver or kidney failure.

The use of topical medicines, especially if prolonged, can cause irritation or allergic reactions. In such cases, stop the treatment and consult your doctor.

Contact your doctor if you experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances.

Avoid contact of the cream with areas adjacent to the eyes, as penetration of the medicine into the eyes can cause glaucoma (increased intraocular pressure) and cataracts. If this happens, rinse the affected area thoroughly with water.

Avoid prolonged use as it can cause dilation of blood vessels and thinning of the skin.

Avoid prolonged use of the cream, especially on a large area of skin, or its application on broken skin, as the medicine can be absorbed into the blood and cause systemic effects (which can affect various parts of the body).

Do not cover the treated area with occlusive (non-breathable) dressings, as this could also promote the absorption of the medicine into the blood, causing the appearance of undesirable effects that occur with systemic administration (e.g., orally or intravenously) of corticosteroids. For the same reason, avoid applying the cream to children in the diaper area.

Children
Do not use Lenirit in neonates and children under two years of age.

Particular caution is recommended when using the medicine in children due to the higher risk, compared to adults, of systemic effects induced by corticosteroids (e.g., Cushing's syndrome).

Prolonged use of corticosteroids in children can cause growth and development disorders.

Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everyone experiences them.

The reported side effects are listed below; their frequency is not known.
During the application of the cream, you may experience acne, hematoma-like lesions due to the rupture of capillaries under the skin's surface, thinning of the skin, dry skin, increased hair growth, skin discoloration, striae (stretch marks), dilation of capillaries that appear on the skin as fine red or bluish streaks, dermatitis affecting areas around the mouth and nose, infection involving the upper part of the hair follicle (folliculitis), itching, blurred vision.

Actions that promote cream absorption (e.g., an occlusive dressing) can cause systemic side effects such as swelling (edema), increased blood pressure, and impaired immune system.
Prolonged use, especially on large areas, of corticosteroid-containing creams can cause the development of hypercortisolism (excessive increase of certain hormones).
Prolonged use of corticosteroids in children can cause growth and development disorders.

Application of the cream in the eyelid area has occasionally caused increased intraocular pressure (glaucoma) or cataracts.

Reporting of side effects
If you experience any side effects, including those not listed in this leaflet, consult your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system at: https://www.aifa.gov.it/content/segnalazionireazioni-avverse.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.