Eurax Cream: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Eurax Cream contains crotamiton, a topical anti-infective that acts as an anti-itch (antipruritic) medicine. It is applied to the skin to relieve itching and irritation and is also used to treat scabies. It provides relief from itching for up to 6 to 10 hours after each application. It is available as a cream or lotion.

What is Eurax Cream

Eurax Cream is a topical cream containing crotamiton, an anti-itch (antipruritic) medicine. It is used on the skin to relieve itching and to treat scabies.

Eurax Cream uses

• Relief from itching and skin irritation caused by conditions such as sunburn, dry eczema, itchy dermatitis, allergic rashes, hives, nettle rash, chickenpox, insect bites and stings, heat rashes, and general itching
• Treatment of scabies

Benefits of Eurax Cream

• Provides quick relief from itching and skin irritation for up to 6 to 10 hours after each application

How Eurax Cream works

Crotamiton is an antipruritic that helps stop the release of chemicals in the body that cause itching, and it also works against the mites that cause scabies to relieve itching and irritation.

Eurax Cream dosage

Use with clean hands and gently apply the cream to the affected area, then wash your hands right after use. Do not use on the eyes or ears, and avoid the mouth, nose, and eyes. Do not use on broken, weeping, or infected skin.

For itchy and irritated skin, adults (including elderly) apply to the affected area a few times daily.

For scabies, take a warm bath first and dry the skin well, then rub the cream into the entire body surface excluding the face and scalp until no traces remain visible. Repeat once daily, preferably in the evening, for several days in a row.

Children can use this cream, but for children under three years of age, a doctor should be consulted first and the cream should not be applied more than once a day.

If you or a child accidentally swallows the cream, contact a doctor or emergency department immediately. Do not smoke or go near naked flames while using this product, as fabric that has contacted it burns more easily.

Available forms and strengths

• Cream
• Lotion

Side effects of Eurax Cream

Common

• Mild itching or new rash
• Mild skin irritation
• Skin dryness
• Skin rashes

Serious

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the face, tongue or throat
• Severe burning, stinging, or irritation after using the cream
• Wheezing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Shortness of breath

Warnings and precautions

• If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine. 
• If you are breast-feeding, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine.
• Eurax Cream is for external use only; do not swallow or use vaginally. Avoid contact with the eyes and mouth. 
• If contact occurs, rinse thoroughly with water. Do not apply to broken skin, raw/weeping areas, acute eczema, or severely inflamed skin.
• Stop using it and seek medical advice if severe irritation, rash, or allergic sensitivity develops. 
• Pediatric safety/effectiveness is not established in the current U.S. label; some other formulations/regions allow children, but young children should use it only under medical supervision.
• If itching continues or the skin condition worsens despite treatment, consult a doctor. Keep out of reach of children.
• Eurax Cream is for external use only. Do not use in or around the eyes, or on broken skin.
• Do not smoke or go near naked flames while using this product because of the risk of severe burns. 
• Fabric that has been in contact with the cream burns more easily and is a fire hazard. Washing clothing and bedding may reduce this but not fully remove it.
• The cream contains ingredients such as stearyl alcohol, methyl hydroxybenzoates, and various fragrance components that may cause local skin reactions or allergic reactions.
• Do not use the cream if you have a weeping skin condition.
• For children under three years of age, the cream should only be used under medical supervision.
• Stop using the cream if you experience irritation or other unwanted side effects.

Storage

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children
• Do not store above 25°C
• Use within 12 months of opening
• Do not use after the expiry date shown on the end of the tube
• Store Eurax Cream at room temperature far from heat or moisture

When to see a doctor

• Stop using the cream and seek medical advice if you have difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, tongue or throat, or skin rash and irritation
• If you or a child accidentally swallows the cream, contact a doctor or emergency department right away
• Get emergency medical help for signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat

Alternatives

• Permethrin 5% Cream
• Ivermectin Tablets
• Sulfur 5–10% Ointment