Sulfadecortem ® ointment has a specific for its active substances - hydrocortisone and sulfur - anti-inflammatory, anti-exudative, exfoliating, antipruritic, keratolytic and epidermoplastic action.
Sulfur is an antiseptic, fungicidal, keratolytic, epidermoplastic agent. Sulfur when applied to the skin, interacting with organic substances, forms sulphides and pentathionic acid, which have an antimicrobial and antiparasitic effect. Sulfides possess keratoplastic properties.
Hydrocortisone - synthetic non-halogenated steroid, belongs to the first class (weakly active) glucocorticosteroid agents (SCS).
Hydrocortisone has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antipruritic and desensitizing effects. Pharmacological effects of hydrocortisone are realized due to hyposensitization of the receptors of the affected skin to histamine and serotonin, blockade of histamine A2, increased activity of hyaluronidase, which is associated with a decrease in permeability of the vascular wall, exudative phenomena and itching, normalization of vascular tone and stabilization of cell membranes.
The anti-inflammatory effect of hydrocortisone is also associated with the inhibitory effect on the synthesis of mediators of inflammation (prostaglandins, leukotrienes, interleukins, complement components, etc.).
Showing high therapeutic activity at any stage of inflammation, SCS quickly suppresses the symptoms of dermatoses, suppressing the main links of both early and late phases of inflammation.
The overall superior effect of the combination of sulfur with hydrocortisone is interdependent: sulfur strengthens the effects of hydrocortisone; hydrocortisone, somewhat restraining, optimizes the keratolytic action of sulfur, prevents the development of its side effects, prevents its irritating effect.