Can you use calmurid cream on your face?

I have keratosis pilaris. Doctor diagnosed me last year. I have been using calmurid cream on my arms and legs since then. However now I have developed it on my cheeks. She said continue using the cream you have but when I got home the leaflet didn't say anything about using it on your face.

Can you use calmurid cream on your face?
How does it work?





This cream contains the active ingredients urea and lactic acid. It is used to moisturise and rehydrate dry, scaly skin.





Dry skin results from lack of water in the outer layer of skin cells known as the stratum corneum. When this layer becomes dehydrated it loses its flexibility and becomes cracked, scaly and sometimes itchy. The stratum corneum contains natural water-holding substances, including urea, which retain water seeping up from the deeper layers of the skin. Water is also normally retained in the stratum corneum by a surface film of natural oil (sebum) and broken-down skin cells, which slow down evaporation of water from the skin surface.





The skin dries out when too much water evaporates from its surface. This increases as we get older, and is made worse by washing, because hot water and soap remove the layer of natural oil on the skin surface.





When urea is applied to the skin it penetrates the stratum corneum, where it readily absorbs and retains water. This increases the capacity of the skin to hold moisture, and the skin therefore becomes rehydrated.





Lactic acid is known as a keratolytic. When applied to the skin it breaks down keratin, which is a protein that forms part of the skin structure. In conditions such as chronic eczema and ichthyosis, excessive amounts of keratin causes the skin cells to harden, and makes the skin become thickened and scaly. Lactic acid breaks down the keratin in the hardened and thickened skin, helping to shed skin cells from the area to which it is applied, and soften and improve the appearance of dry, scaly skin. This action also improves the ability of the urea to penetrate the skin and rehydrate it.





The moisturising base of this cream also provides a layer of oil on the surface of the skin, which helps prevent water from evaporating from the skin surface.








What is it used for?





* Inherited, non-inflammatory dryness and scaling of the skin (ichthyosis, xeroderma)





* Other dry, scaly skin disorders





Warning!





* This preparation is for external use only.





* If you experience stinging when applying this medicine and this prevents you using it, the medicine can be diluted with an equal quantity of aqueous cream for a week of treatment. After this time you should be able to use it undiluted. Seek further advice from your pharmacist.





* Avoid contact of this medicine with the eyes and the moist membranes lining the inside of certain parts of the body, eg mouth, nasal passages (mucous membranes).





Not to be used in





* Known sensitivity or allergy to any ingredient





This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.





If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.





Pregnancy and Breastfeeding





Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.





* There are no known harmful effects when this medicine is used during pregnancy.





* This preparation may be used safely by breastfeeding mothers, providing it is not applied to the breasts prior to breastfeeding. This will avoid ingestion by the infant.





Side effects





Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.





* Stinging on application





The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.





For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.





How can this medicine affect other medicines?





By smoothing and softening the skin this medicine can increase the absorption of other medicines that are applied to the skin. This can be useful in conditions such as eczema because it improves the ability of other medicines, such as corticosteroid creams, to penetrate the skin and reduce inflammation.

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