"Bepanten" for nursing mothers: from use to the need for rinsing

"Bepanten" is known to many young parents, as it helps out when the baby has prickly heat, diaper rash and other skin problems. This tool can be used even in newborns, as it acts only locally and does not contain harmful components. It is not contraindicated for nursing mothers who use "Bepanten" for painful sensations caused by nipple cracks.

Bepantin is manufactured by Bayer pharmaceutical company in the form of two drugs. One of them is a healing cream, which has a lighter texture, white color and rapid penetration into the skin. The second form of the drug is an ointment, which is distinguished by its greater viscosity and yellowish tinge.

Both products are sold without a prescription in tubes of 30 and 100 grams and contain dexpanthenol as the main ingredient. Auxiliary substances in different types of "Bepanten" differ, but they are safe and cause allergies in isolated cases.

Dexpanthenol after entering the skin cells becomes pantothenic acid, the second name of which is “vitamin B5”. This vitamin compound has beneficial properties due to which it stimulates the healing of the skin, moisturizes it and provides protection against harmful effects (wind, low temperature, etc.). Under the influence of pantothenic acid, collagen fibers become stronger, and cell regeneration of the epidermis is accelerated.

During lactation, many drugs are prohibited to use, as their active substances can penetrate into breast milk and thereby affect the immature body of the baby. But with respect to "Bepanten" there are no restrictions. Both cream and ointment with this name can be safely used both in nursing mothers and in newborn babies.

The active ingredient of such drugs has a local effect. and not absorbed into the blood.

There are no other contraindications for ointments and creams, although their use is also not recommended for infection of the skin, since the active components of Bepanten are incapable of destroying the pathogens.

The cream is most often used for excessive dry skin, as well as for its irritation, for example, if a woman has dermatitis or sunburn. This form is also recommended for the prevention of drying and skin damage. If you need to quickly cure scratches, burns, insect bites, prickly heat, abrasions, and similar problems, usually buy an ointment.

Breastfeeding mothers often use Bepanten to treat or prevent nipple cracks. For this purpose, both forms of the drug can be used, since the percentage of the active substance in them is the same. They are applied if the surface of the nipples reddened or cracked as a result of improper attachment of the baby to the breast.

Such a problem is not uncommon for young mothers. Women may encounter it already in the first days of breastfeeding, if the crumb will not properly grab the nipple or the mother will ineptly use the breast pump.The appearance of cracks can also be caused by improper hygienic care, for example, if a mother frequently washes her breasts with soap.

Breast treatment with "Bepantenom" is performed after each feeding. In this case, rinse off the nipple before the next feeding the baby is not required. According to the instructions, the drug is quickly absorbed into the skin and does not harm the baby. Both dexpanthenol and all inactive substances of both forms of medicine are safe and presented in small quantities, so they do not cause any negative effects in the child’s body.

In most cases, the babies do not react in any way to the breast processed by “Bepanten,” since the ointment and cream lack a strong smell and any taste. Therefore, you can not be afraid to forget to rub the breast before feeding, because when using "Bepanten" there is no need for this.

Along with treatment with "Bepanten", it is recommended to observe such measures that will help nipple cracks heal faster and prevent the appearance of new ones.

• Learn to properly attach the baby and gently remove the chest from his mouth. If you do not eliminate this cause, which is the main cause of nipple damage, then all the costs for Bepanten will be unjustified, since the problem will soon happen again.
• Do not wash your breasts too often and do not wear too tight underwear. For normal care of the mammary glands enough daily hygienic shower. In no case should the nipples be treated with brilliant green, as this will lead to strong drying of the skin and the appearance of new cracks. Wash the breasts after each feeding should only be done when the cracks are triggered by an infection.
• Use your breast pump correctly. Mom should choose a device suitable for her breast and consult a specialist how to use it. If there are already cracks, then the breast pump should be postponed until they are completely healed. While the wounds on the nipples are not healed, you should only express your chest with your hands.
• Apply lining. If only one nipple is cracked, the mother can breastfeed the infant with the second breast, and express the milk from the diseased gland. You can also give the first suck healthy breasts, and the nipple with a crack to offer the second, as a hungry baby sucks with great effort. When cracks appear on both nipples, a woman should use the lining, but after recovery from them, it is advisable to immediately give up so that such assistive devices do not affect breastfeeding.

If "Bepantin" is used by a woman with abrasions, frostbite, dermatitis, stretch marks and in other cases, the treatment is recommended 1-2 times a day. The skin is pre-cleaned, and then an ointment or cream is applied in a circular motion until the medicament is completely absorbed into the affected area. Most often, the medicine is used in the morning and before bedtime until complete healing.

Most women call Bepanthen an effective local remedy that makes skin less dry and minor injuries quickly disappear. The cream is praised for its consistency, easy application, no pronounced odor, safe action and rare side effects. Only in some cases, an allergy arose on such a drug, forcing the nursing mother to abandon its use.

The advantages of the ointment include quick help for minor burns, dermatitis, abrasions, cracks and other problems. This tool is easily applied, does not leave stains on clothes and hands, quickly washed off, if required.However, many women like this “Bepanten” less because of greater fat content and viscosity, although it is precisely his nursing mothers who use it to treat nipple cracks most often.

The disadvantage of both forms is usually called the high cost, since the average price of a tube with 30 g of any drug is 350-450 rubles. Because of this, women often prefer more affordable moisturizing and wound-healing products, presented in pharmacies and children's stores in a rather large assortment.

If the possibility of using Bepanthen is absent, the woman may use other drugs that also contain dexpanthenol. These drugs include “Panthenol”, “D-Panthenol”, “Pantoderm”, “Panthenol-Teva”, “Dexpanthenol”, “Pantenolsprey” and other drugs. They are available in the form of ointments, creams and aerosols. All these medicines can be safely used in women who breastfeed.

If the damaged skin of the nursing mother has become inflamed and there is a risk of infection, it is better to replace the usual “Bepanten” with a drug called “Bepanten Plus”. Its main difference is the presence in the composition of the second active substance, which has an antiseptic effect. This active ingredient is chlorhexidine. The drug can be used for breastfeeding, but before using it, it is advisable to consult with your doctor.

TO analogs “Bepanten” with a different composition, but with a similar effect on the skin, includes “Desitin”, “Sudokrem”, “Tsindol”, “Purelan”, “Elidel”, “Solcoseryl” and other means. They effectively cope with inflammation and minor injuries, but each of these drugs has its own contraindications and features of use, therefore, it is better to entrust the choice of such analogues to a specialist.

Instructions for the drug "Bepanten" is given in the following video.