The skin is a very important part of our body. But as with the rest of the parts of our body, it is susceptible to injury, illness and various infections, and it is necessary to resort to medicine to relieve and cure any ailments that may occur.

As we already know, there are many creams and drugs designed for the treatment of dermatological problems. One of them is diprogenta , about which we will talk throughout this article.

Diprogenta: what is it?

It is called diprogenta, a powerful drug with numerous effects on human skin that is used in the treatment of various skin diseases . It is a substance composed mainly of betamethasone dipropionate and gentamicin sulfate, the former being a type of corticoid and the latter an aminoglycoside antibiotic with an effect on different bacteria.

These components make diprogenta have anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and vasoconstrictive effects in addition to reducing itching, although its use should not exceed two weeks because prolonging treatment with this substance can generate significant side effects (especially due to the use of steroids).

Its action is relatively fast and its effects are prolonged in time. It can be applied generally once or twice a day. It is a drug that is marketed in the form of a cream , whose application must be made on healthy skin (never on wounds) and there is no other route of administration other than the skin, since this is the route by which it is best metabolized.

Care should be taken to avoid ingesting it, as well as to avoid contact with the eyes. The dosage will have to be indicated by the doctor in each case, although it is usually indicated that a thin layer of this drug should be spread.

Indications

Diprogenta is a very useful drug in the treatment of various skin conditions, especially those lesions and inflammations complicated with a subsequent secondary infection .

It is commonly used in dermatosis (generic name of skin diseases), among which its use in case of dermatitis (whether atopic, solar, seborrheic, contact, poison or exfoliative), eczema, allergic reactions or psoriasis, reducing inflammation and soothing itching and discomfort in addition to treating possible infections sensitive to the action of gentamicin.

However, this product has bactericidal properties, but not antifungal , so it will not be effective in fungal diseases such as candidiasis.

Side effects

As indicated above, diprogenta is a potent drug whose use must be restricted in time and applied in a very limited way, since it can lead to different side effects and even intoxication.

Side effects resulting from excessively prolonged use and on very wide areas of the body include skin atrophy and cracking, skin dryness or maceration (weakening and softening of the skin), inflammation of hair follicles, allergic reactions, infections, redness, acne and skin rashes, stretch marks or the appearance of hair.

Other more serious side effects would include alterations not only in the skin but also in other systems and even in the development process in minors (and could even slow down growth): can generate the suppression of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, hyperglycemia (of great severity especially in diabetic patients), blood and intracranial hypertension, worsening of glaucoma, hyperthyroidism, cholesterol, ulcer, cataracts, blurred vision, alopecia, drop in blood potassium level or even Cushing’s syndrome. It can also cause kidney and liver damage, and its prolonged use is toxic.

In addition, may also produce tolerance to gentamicin , which would facilitate subsequent infections resistant to that antibiotic.

Contraindications and precautions

Diprogenta is a very powerful drug that has a lot of side effects if misused, and there are also a number of contraindications and precautions to be taken into account before prescribing it.

It is contraindicated in children under twelve years of age, and its use in those who have reached that age should be done with great caution due to the possible alteration of the endocrine and hormonal systems as it could have important effects on their development.

It is also contraindicated in the case of pregnant (especially in the first trimester) and lactating women unless the benefits outweigh the possible risks, given that although there is not enough data in humans on this subject, it has been shown to generate alterations in the fetus in rats.

Obviously this product should not be used if you are allergic to its components. Nor should it be used in the case of fungal or viral infections , in the case of tuberculosis or syphilis, in oral, ocular or genital inflammations, in reactions to vaccines or in deep wounds.

This product should also be avoided in large areas, use in areas covered with bandages or in areas of the skin with a large number of folds, and should be especially avoided in prolonged use. Its use in psoriasis, although it may be an indication for diprogenta, should be extremely controlled and done under supervision. Finally, it is not recommended to mix it with substances which may interact with it.

Bibliographic references:

  • Spanish Agency for Medicines and Healthcare Products (2012). Leaflet: information for the user. Diprogenta 0,5mg/g +1mg/g cream. Madrid, Spain. Government of Spain; Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality.