MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) have warned the general public that a skin cream claiming to be a natural Chinese herbal remedy for treating eczema contains a potentially harmful steroid and should not be used.

Zudaifu cream

Zudaifu cream is being sold online.  Therefore, MHRA have advised that anyone who has purchased the cream should stop using it immediately.

Most importantly, MHRA have analysed the cream and discovered the presence of the steroid clobetasol propionate. This is the active ingredient in Prescription-Only medicines used for treating a range of skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.  As a result, any creams containing steroids should be used sparingly and as prescribed by a healthcare professional. They should not be used on children under 12 months old.

Read what Dr Jones from MHRA says about Zudaifu cream

Dr Chris Jones, Manager of the Medicines Borderline Section at MHRA said:

“We have again identified a potentially harmful cream described as a natural Chinese herbal medicine on the market.

Selling creams directly to the public that contain strong steroids is illegal and they are potentially dangerous if they are used without medical supervision.

Steroids must only be prescribed by healthcare professionals who follow strict criteria when prescribing them and can monitor patients using them. They can suppress the skin’s response to infection and can also cause long-term thinning of the skin. If steroids are applied long term, particularly on children, they can lead to other medical problems.

Our advice to anyone who has bought it previously or is currently using Zudaifu cream – particularly on young children and babies – is to stop using it immediately. If you have any questions, please contact your healthcare professional.”

What to do if you are unsure about the safety of a medicine

If you are unsure about the safety of a medicine claiming to be “natural” or “herbal” you should check for a Marketing Authorisation (MA) or Product Licence (PL) number or Traditional Herbal Registration (THR) number / the THR logo. This means the product has been assessed by MHRA for safety and has been manufactured correctly. For more information, visit NHS Choices.

Reporting what you know about Zudaifu cream

If you are aware of Zudaifu cream being sold, please report it to MHRA at Borderline_medicine@mhra.gov.uk.

  

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