Betamethasone is a corticosteroid with topical anti-inflammatory activity. Betamethasone valerate ready diluted (Betnovate RD) preparations are indicated for maintenance treatment once an acute episode has been treated effectively with a continuous course of betamethasone valerate (Betnovate).

Driclor acts locally, in the stratum corneum and the terminal duct to relieve hyperhidrosis. Aluminium chloride hexahydrate is acidic and is thought to act by diffusing into the sweat ducts where on neutralisation it forms gelatinous hydroxides which obstruct the flow of sweat. The antiperspirant effect of aluminium chloride hexahydrate is partly explained by production of mechanical blockage in the eccrine sweat duct. Following application, aluminium is found in the stratum corneum and intra-luminally in the terminal duct

Lamisil contains terbinafine, an allylamine which has a broad spectrum of antifungal activity. At low concentrations terbinafine is fungicidal against dermatophytes, moulds and certain dimorphic fungi. Its activity against yeasts is fungicidal or fungistatic, depending on the species. Terbinafine interferes specifically with fungal sterol biosynthesis at an early step. This leads to a deficiency in ergosterol and an intracellular accumulation of squalene, resulting in fungal cell death

Lamisil contains terbinafine, an allylamine which has a broad spectrum of antifungal activity. At low concentrations terbinafine is fungicidal against dermatophytes, moulds and certain dimorphic fungi. Its activity against yeasts is fungicidal or fungistatic, depending on the species. Terbinafine interferes specifically with fungal sterol biosynthesis at an early step. This leads to a deficiency in ergosterol and an intracellular accumulation of squalene, resulting in fungal cell death

Lamisil contains terbinafine, an allylamine which has a broad spectrum of antifungal activity. At low concentrations terbinafine is fungicidal against dermatophytes, moulds and certain dimorphic fungi. Its activity against yeasts is fungicidal or fungistatic, depending on the species. Terbinafine interferes specifically with fungal sterol biosynthesis at an early step. This leads to a deficiency in ergosterol and an intracellular accumulation of squalene, resulting in fungal cell death.

Contains a retinoid alitretinoin. The pharmacological action of retinoids may be explained by their effects on cell proliferation, cell differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, keratinisation, sebum secretion and immunomodulation. Unlike other retinoids, which are specific agonists of either RAR or RXR receptors, alitretinoin binds to members of both receptor families. The mechanism of action of alitretinoin in chronic hand eczema is unknown. Alitretinoin has demonstrated immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects that are relevant to skin inflammation

Bactroban contains mupirocin, an antibiotic. It has bacteriostatic properties at minimum inhibitory concentrations and bactericidal properties at the higher concentrations reached when applied locally

Duac Once Daily gel has a combination of mild keratolytic and antibacterial properties that act against inflamed lesions of mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Benzoyl peroxide is mildly keratolytic, acting against comedones at all stages of their development. It is an oxidising agent with bactericidal activity against Propionibacterium acnes, the organism implicated in acne vulgaris. It is also sebostatic, counteracting the excessive sebum production associated with acne. Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic with bacteriostatic action against Gram-positive aerobes and a wide range of anaerobic bacteria

Fenistil contains penciclovir, which has demonstrable in vivo and in vitro activity against herpes simplex viruses (types 1 and 2) and varicella zoster virus. In virus-infected cells penciclovir is rapidly and efficiently converted into a triphosphate (mediated via virus-induced thymidine kinase)

Lyclear contains permethrin, which belongs to a group of anti-parasitic agents called pyrethroids. Permethrin is rapidly absorbed across the insect cuticle. The principal physiological action is the induction of electrochemical abnormalities across the membranes of excitable cells, leading to sensory hyperexcitability, incoordination and prostration. When presented in an aqueous base, the ovicidal activity of permethrin is increased by the addition of an alcohol