The instructions for Contractubex recommend its use against scars and scars, burns and stretch marks; it is allowed to be used in pediatric practice. The drug can be in the form of a gel or a patch; it is often used to apply an occlusive dressing.
For scars, Contractubex gel is used for 1-2 months, applied 2-3 times daily. The patch is applied for 12 hours of continuous wear. The drug begins to work within 4 hours after application.
Side effects are extremely rare, but with prolonged use, a local allergic reaction may develop. Young scars and cicatrices can be completely eliminated using the gel, while old ones can be made less pronounced. The cost of one package of 20 g is 500 rubles on average. More affordable analogues are Dermatix, Kelo-Kot, Fermenkol, Medera.
Gel Contractubex
The local medicine Contractubex in gel form accelerates the healing of postoperative scars and activates tissue regeneration in case of skin damage. The pharmacological properties of the drug promote the healing of wounds, scar surfaces of fresh scars, and also help in restoring healthy skin in the presence of old scars.
Compound
The drug is available in the form of a water-based gel for topical use, which has a light brown matte consistency with a characteristic odor. The ointment is packaged in aluminum tubes of 20 or 50 g. The composition of the cream, according to the instructions for use, includes heparin, allantoin and onion extract, the combination of properties of which provides pharmacological properties. The full composition of the gel is presented in the table below:
Substance | Contents, per 100 g |
Onion extract | 10 |
Sodium heparin | 0.04 (5000 IU) |
Allantoin | 1 |
Sorbic acid | |
Methyl parahydroxybenzoate | |
Macrogol 200 (Polyethylene glycol 200) | |
Xanthan gum (Xantural 75) | |
Flavored oil 231616 | |
Purified water |
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
The pharmacological effect of Contractubex cream is achieved through a combination of the medicinal properties of the main components of the drug. The active substances of onion extract reduce the secretion of inflammatory mediators in the application area and relieve an allergic reaction. Inhibition of proteoglycan division processes at the site of keloid scars prevents the proliferation of scar tissue. The bactericidal properties of onions eliminate the possibility of wound infection by pathogenic harmful microflora, reducing the risk of postoperative complications.
Allantoin accelerates the healing of the wound surface. This component of the cream provides a keratolytic effect, stimulating the trophic process, helping to soften and remove excess horny masses from damaged areas of the skin. The substance has a softening property, relieves itching, pain and other unpleasant sensations in the process of tissue scarring.
Heparin sodium salt provides antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of the ointment. The substance relieves pain and swelling, blocks arterial hyperemia and hypothermia in the pathological focus, and prevents excessive proliferation of connective tissue cells. Under the influence of heparin, collagen-containing components of the structures of young epithelial cells are softened, and their saturation with water improves. This property provides a cosmetic effect and elasticity of scars, bringing their parameters closer to those of healthy skin.
Clinical studies have shown that heparin penetrates into the connective tissue of the wound surface within 4 hours from the moment of application of the drug in quantities necessary for the onset of a therapeutic effect. There is no systemic effect on the body due to the fact that the active and auxiliary components of the drug are not absorbed into the main bloodstream and do not accumulate in tissues and organs. In this regard, data on pharmacokinetics are not available.
Indications for use
Scar cream Contractubex is used in postoperative periods as a measure to prevent the formation of pathological scars due to mechanical or burn injuries to the skin. Other indications for the use of the gel are:
- atrophic or hypertrophic scar growths in skin diseases;
- keloid scars;
- contractures (limited mobility) or ankylosis (immobility) of joints;
- post-traumatic tendon contractures;
- Dupuytren's contracture, which developed against the background of chronic alcoholic hepatitis;
- scars after furunculosis, acne, acne;
- skin deformities after severe burn injuries;
- stretch marks after pregnancy.
Composition of the ointment
The ointment (gel or cream) contains:
- Onion extract. It releases special mediators that suppress inflammation and has antiseptic and antiallergic properties. Stimulates collagen production in the deep layers of scar fibers, making them less noticeable. Stops the formation of excess tissue in the area of damaged integument.
- Heparin sodium. Restores epidermal cells, softens the keratinized surface of scar tissue, and has moisturizing properties.
- Allantoin. Soothes the skin, relieves irritation, eliminates itching and redness. Softens the epidermis, stops the proliferation of bacteria, activates the regeneration process in cells.
Auxiliary components include methylparaben (preservative), PEG 200, sorbic acid (natural antiseptic preservative), purified water, flavorings, xanthan gum (thickener with moisturizing properties). The gel/ointment is light brown in color and has a characteristic odor.
Directions for use and dosage
Gel for scars and fresh scars is applied topically by rubbing the ointment into the skin until completely absorbed. The recommended height of the gel layer applied to the skin at a time is at least 5 mm, the application area is 20-25 cm. Depending on the degree of damage, the number of applications per day varies from 2 to 5 times, the treatment regimen is prescribed by the attending physician. For newly formed scar tissue, the duration of gel treatment is from 4 to 10 weeks.
During the treatment of scars from old scars with a higher density of connective tissue (compared to fresh scars), as well as with Dupuytren's contracture, the effectiveness of the pharmacological action of the drug is enhanced through the use of occlusive dressings. They are applied at night (secured with a plaster) due to the increased activity of reparative processes during sleep. The course of treatment in such cases can range from 6 to 12 months.
Treatment with gel can only begin after the wound has been closed. When used in the postoperative period, therapy is prescribed immediately after the sutures are removed. It is recommended to apply the ointment with light massage movements, moving the palm from the center of the damage to its edges. The formation of a thin, invisible scar depends on the smoothness of movement and uniform absorption of the gel.
special instructions
The instructions for using contractubex indicate that it is advisable to apply it to pre-steamed skin. Indeed, the open pores of the skin absorb heparin with the active substances it transports faster and more easily, so the effect in this case is higher and more noticeable. Before using the drug on the body, it is recommended to take a hot bath; you can add chamomile or sage infusions to better expand the pores and remove excess sebum. It is enough to steam the skin on your face with a hot mask.
This procedure will not only enhance the healing effect of the gel, but will also give the facial skin elasticity, cleanse it and launch the processes of regeneration and renewal of the upper cellular layer. After removing the mask, you need to apply gel to the area where the scar is formed, and wipe other areas of the face with lotion or apply nourishing cream.
If physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed to eliminate scars, it will be much more effective to combine the application of the gel with their implementation.
If the patient is treating fresh scars, he should avoid ultraviolet radiation during the entire treatment period. It is sometimes used in small doses in clinical settings to treat small wounds, but at the same time it ages the skin, makes it sagging and makes it more sluggish. This interferes with the normal distribution of the active components of Contractubex over the upper layers of the skin and sharply reduces its effectiveness.
In this case, the combination of ultraviolet radiation and the drug can cause a severe allergic reaction.
You should also not expose the skin at the site of scarring to cold, as this also reduces the effectiveness of the ointment used. The pores narrow, the cells become less receptive and healing substances have practically no effect on them.
Intense massage is also not recommended during the treatment of scars and stretch marks with Contractubex. Strong pressure on the damaged area of the skin can cause more damage to it, since new tears and stretches may occur in the inner layers of the skin. On the contrary, a light warming massage will have a very good effect on the treatment process. A light massage will increase blood circulation, warm up the skin, make it more receptive to the medicine, which will speed up the appearance of the effect of its use.
Contractubex during pregnancy
Due to the low systemic effect of topical drugs, their use during pregnancy is not contraindicated. To avoid negative consequences, it is necessary to agree on a treatment regimen with a specialist managing the pregnancy. The decision to use Contractubex as a prophylaxis for skin stretch marks is made individually; in most cases, therapy is postponed until the end of breastfeeding.
For children
Contractubex cream for scars can be prescribed in childhood; the instructions for use in the paragraph describing contraindications do not indicate age restrictions. Before use, you must consult your doctor to clarify the gel treatment regimen and course duration. If a child is prone to allergic skin reactions, it is necessary to make sure that there is no allergy to any of the components of the drug.
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In what forms is it available?
The Contractubex line includes several variants of the drug:
- Anti-Red gel for acne scars 20 g;
- ointment or cream 20 and 50 g;
- Kontraktubeks prolonged action patch for the treatment of fresh scar marks. There are 21 pcs in one package.
The gel composition is produced in metal tubes, packed in cardboard boxes along with paper instructions.
Side effects
Conservative therapy after surgery and in other cases is well tolerated. In rare cases, allergic skin reactions may occur due to intolerance to one or more components of the drug. No other negative consequences or side effects have been established. Before starting treatment, consultation with a specialist is necessary.
Analogs
The use of medicinal analogues is possible if intolerance to a component is detected or if there are no results of therapy. Independent selection of a cheaper analogue of Contratubes can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment process, so it is better to replace it with the consent of the attending physician. Drugs with a similar mechanism of action include:
- Algofin;
- Aekol;
- Vinylin;
- Wundehill;
- Dermatix.
Dermatix or Contractubex – which is better?
Dermatix is a silicone gel for the prevention of scar tissue formation, consisting of a mixture of silicon-based organic compounds. Its therapeutic effect is to maintain a physiologically normal water balance of damaged skin, smoothing and reducing protruding parts of newly formed connective tissue. When using the gel, skin itching is reduced and skin pigmentation is reduced. Due to the similar mechanism of action, the effectiveness depends on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body.
approximate cost
How much contractubex costs depends not only on the region of purchase, but also on the pharmacy. In chain pharmacies, drugs are usually slightly cheaper than in individual pharmacies. At the same time, in elite pharmacy chains prices are significantly higher due to the “promoted” brand.
For 20 mg of contractubex gel the price is approximately 520-650 rubles.
The cost of a 50-milligram tube is about 850-970 rubles.
Contractubex patch costs about 1100-1400 rubles.
The drug lasts a long time even with constant use, so despite the high cost of packaging, the course of treatment will not be very expensive.