wa123

After some additional research, I have noted that virtually all of the side effects to this product reported to this newsgroup appear consistent with what is known and published about triamcinolone acetonide ( TA ), a corticosteroid. Further, several of the company's actions are consistent with TA being an active ingredient in the product. Side effects: 1) Claims of miraculous recovery are consistent with TA, as large amounts of potent steroids will do exactly that to damaged skin , and on a time scale consistent with what has been reported. 2) The small red fluid-filled vesicles, unusually dry skin, acne, discolored skin, lack of wound healing, skin softening, and feet swelling that have been reported here are known TA adverse reactions. 3) TA is in a different steroid family than cortisone, and several medical articles have indicated that allergic reaction to one family does not necessarily imply reaction to the other.  Claims of not reacting to the product as a steroid do not necessarily rule out TA. 4) TA has itself been shown to be a cholinesterase inhibitor, so it may be associated with the lip twitches reported, especially since the face is one skin area where there is a nearby underlying musculature that can be inhibited by it. 5) TA has been used as a treatment for psoriatic arthritis, so the improvement of PA (but simultaneously with the appearance of guttate lesions) is also consistent, given that the adverse effect strongly implies that the quantities involved were massive, and that they have probably then gone systemic. 6) It is also consistent with TA that serious lesions will rebound when usage has been abruptly terminated.  In fact, all the following appear consistent with each other: extensive coverage, long term P, relative failure of normal treatments, heavy product use, rapid clearing, breakthough P, continued use, flares at cutback or discontinuation.   Company actions: 1) The company warns of anorexia, vomiting, and anemia if the product is ingested.  The first two are known side effects of TA.  Depending on how one interprets anemia , even that can be considered as a side effect of TA, as TA has been shown in several studies to reduce the level of certain white blood cells. 2) The company warns that ingestion should be treated with gastric lavage (stomach washing), even though none of the ingredients listed with the Spanish Health Ministry appear to justify it.  For example, Zincon shampoo has no similar warning, and it contains 10 times the active ingredient of ZnP, and much more sodium lauryl sulfate.  Such extreme measures appear to be more appropriate for drugs that have a pronounced systemic effect and that can be taken orally, which is consistent with TA. 3) The carrier and fluidizer for the product are virtually identical to that of Kenalog TA spray, as are the approximate size of the cans, and the approximate suggested dosage amounts. 4) The company claims in its literature that use of the product reduces to a minimum the effects of corticosteroid use, instead of saying it eliminates them entirely; this literature compares the product with no other forms of treatment besides corticosteroids. 5) According to the magazine, PSO aktuell, TA was found in some German cans in the exact percentage as it is marketed in Kenalog spray; these cans were recalled.  The company admits to their product being monitored.  According to one German user, the present post-recall German product does not work as well as the present American one. 6) According to a report from the Spanish Psoriasis Association, TA was also found in some Spanish cans, again at therapeutically active percentages, and they too were recalled.  According to another report, when they were reintroduced, they did not appear to be as effective as they were formerly. As ever, I would appreciate any further information on the product, its mode of action, and its safety.  I would be especially grateful for any corrections to any errors in what is reported above. John

After some additional research, I have noted that virtually all of the side effects to this product reported to this newsgroup appear consistent with what is known and published about triamcinolone acetonide ( TA ), a corticosteroid. active ingredient in the product. John -    Thanks as always for your insights.  If TA was the 'secret ingredient' in SC, would it be readly detectable?.  I am toying with the idea that SC might be safer and more effective in those with limited P (which rules me out).  Reading your side effects list, do you think TA is more dangerous than, say Psoralin, or long term (standard) cortisone use? I haven't heard of TA before, and I've had and been studying P. for  10 years.  Do you (or any readers) know why it isn't a standard treatment? This sounds logical until you remember the fact that TA is a pre_script_ion medicine and SkinCap is over-the-counter.  There's no way the FDA would allow them to sell it over the net if it contained TA.  Even in a very low dosage (ie. 0.1%), it's still a pre_script_ion medicine. Another reason to think they're not one and the same is the fact that TA has never been particularly effective for me, but yet I'm having good results with SC.  I hope they're not the same,  I'm currently using both of them.

Another reason to think they're not one and the same is the fact that TA has never been particularly effective for me, but yet I'm having good results with SC.  I hope they're not the same,  I'm currently using both of them. Now this is interesting.  Are you using Kenalog spray or are you using the product in ointment or cream form?  If you're using the spray, do you notice any differences between the two products?  If you're not using the spray, I have beem told that delivering *any* treatment in solution, with accompanying keratolytics, (surfactants, alcohol, etc.) may be more effective than providing it in a suspension (which I suspect most creams and ointments are) - someone please correct me if I'm wrong about this. In any case, Klaus, our friend from Germany, who was kind enough to provide information about the article on Skin Cap and triamcinalone in PSO aktuell , mentioned that a number of treatments in  spray form have become rather popular in Germany. Ed Reiss This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

: After some additional research, I have noted that virtually all of the side : effects to this product reported to this newsgroup appear consistent with what : is known and published about triamcinolone acetonide ( TA ), a corticosteroid. : Further, several of the company's actions are consistent with TA being an : active ingredient in the product. : Side effects: : 1) Claims of miraculous recovery are consistent with TA, as large amounts of : potent steroids will do exactly that to damaged skin , and on a time scale : consistent with what has been reported. : 2) The small red fluid-filled vesicles, unusually dry skin, acne, discolored : skin, lack of wound healing, skin softening, and feet swelling that have been : reported here are known TA adverse reactions. : 3) TA is in a different steroid family than cortisone, and several medical : articles have indicated that allergic reaction to one family does not : necessarily imply reaction to the other.  Claims of not reacting to the : product as a steroid do not necessarily rule out TA. : 4) TA has itself been shown to be a cholinesterase inhibitor, so it may be : associated with the lip twitches reported, especially since the face is one : skin area where there is a nearby underlying musculature that can be inhibited : by it. : 5) TA has been used as a treatment for psoriatic arthritis, so the improvement : of PA (but simultaneously with the appearance of guttate lesions) is also : consistent, given that the adverse effect strongly implies that the quantities : involved were massive, and that they have probably then gone systemic. : 6) It is also consistent with TA that serious lesions will rebound when usage : has been abruptly terminated.  In fact, all the following appear consistent : with each other: extensive coverage, long term P, relative failure of normal : treatments, heavy product use, rapid clearing, breakthough P, continued use, : flares at cutback or discontinuation.   : Company actions: : 1) The company warns of anorexia, vomiting, and anemia if the product is : ingested.  The first two are known side effects of TA.  Depending on how one : interprets anemia , even that can be considered as a side effect of TA, as TA : has been shown in several studies to reduce the level of certain white blood : cells. How would reduction in white cells cause anemia? My understanding of anemia is that it is a reduction in red blood cells and/or hemoglobin. : 2) The company warns that ingestion should be treated with gastric lavage : (stomach washing), even though none of the ingredients listed with the Spanish : Health Ministry appear to justify it.  For example, Zincon shampoo has no : similar warning, and it contains 10 times the active ingredient of ZnP, and : much more sodium lauryl sulfate.  Such extreme measures appear to be more : appropriate for drugs that have a pronounced systemic effect and that can be : taken orally, which is consistent with TA. : 3) The carrier and fluidizer for the product are virtually identical to that : of Kenalog TA spray, as are the approximate size of the cans, and the : approximate suggested dosage amounts. : 4) The company claims in its literature that use of the product reduces to a : minimum the effects of corticosteroid use, instead of saying it eliminates : them entirely; this literature compares the product with no other forms : of treatment besides corticosteroids. : 5) According to the magazine, PSO aktuell, TA was found in some German cans in : the exact percentage as it is marketed in Kenalog spray; these cans were : recalled.  The company admits to their product being monitored.  According to : one German user, the present post-recall German product does not work as well : as the present American one. : 6) According to a report from the Spanish Psoriasis Association, TA was also : found in some Spanish cans, again at therapeutically active percentages, and : they too were recalled.  According to another report, when they were : reintroduced, they did not appear to be as effective as they were formerly. : As ever, I would appreciate any further information on the product, its mode : of action, and its safety.  I would be especially grateful for any corrections : to any errors in what is reported above. : John Lots of useful information, John. Is any of this accessable on a web site?

Another reason to think they're not one and the same is the fact that TA has never been particularly effective for me, but yet I'm having good results with SC.  I hope they're not the same,  I'm currently using both of them. No one knows how much TA is in the product, and no one knows what else is in there, either.  There might be some methyl ethyl sulphate sodium , whatever that is (I think it is sulfuric acid, mono (1-methylethyl) ester, sodium salt , but the company won't tell me); this might affect the potency of TA. The product might also be altered by the company's proclaimed secret bioelectrical process, which may chemically react the TA, the SMES, or anything else in it, in unknown ways.  The company won't talk about this either. John - - - -     U. S. Food and Drug Administration     Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition     FDA Backgrounder: November 1991                      Reporting Problem Products to FDA    Have you had a problem with a food, drug, cosmetic, medical device,    radiation-emitting electronic product, or veterinary drug? Did it    cause you an injury or was it insanitary or improperly labeled?    Perform a public service and report the problem to the Food and Drug    Administration.    FDA welcomes reports from the public alerting it to problems with    products that it regulates. The reports help FDA ensure that products    on the market are safe, effective, and properly manufactured, stored    and labeled.    Each report is evaluated to determine how serious the problem is and    what follow-up is needed. Depending on the seriousness of the problem,    FDA will either investigate it immediately or during the next    inspection of the facility responsible for the product. What to Report    Before you report a product that you suspect caused an illness or    injury, ask yourself the following:      * Did you use the product for other than its intended use?      * Did you fail to follow carefully the instructions for the product?      * Was the product old or outdated?      * Do you have an allergy or other medical condition that might have        something to do with the suspected harmful effect?    If you answer yes to any of these questions, it's unlikely that    reporting the problem to FDA will be of any benefit. Nevertheless, you    should, of course, get proper medical care for your injury, if    necessary. Otherwise, report the following:                                     Food . . .                                    Drugs    Report products whose appearance is unusual examples are a capsule    that is cloudy or contains crystals when it should be clear; a package    that has a part or parts of its tamper-evident safeguards missing or    broken; a capsule or pill that is chipped, broken or off-color; or any    product that is contaminated with foreign matter, such as hair or    mold. Also, report any drug that has caused an injury or illness.                                  Cosmetics    Report products that contain filthy or harmful substances, are    decomposed or spoiled, or have caused an injury.                               Medical Devices    Report products that do not perform according to claims and    instructions, have false or misleading labels, are labeled as sterile    but have broken seals, or have caused an injury.                    Radiation-Emitting Electronic Products . . .                          Veterinary Drugs and Feed . . . Where to Report    Complaints may be made by telephone or in writing. Contact the FDA    office nearest you by checking the blue pages of you telephone    directory under U.S. Government, Department of Health and Human    Services, Food and Drug Administration.    You may contact FDA's headquarters:         Food and Drug Administration             5600 Fishers Lane (HFC-160)             Rockville, MD 20857        Or phone FDA's emergency number (staffed at all times): (301)        443-1240. How to Report    Report what happened as soon as possible after you've encountered the    problem. Give names, addresses and telephone numbers of persons who    were injured or made ill. Be sure to include your name, address, and    phone number. Also provide the name and address of the doctor or    hospital providing emergency medical treatment.    State clearly what the problem appears to be. Describe the product as    completely as possible, particularly any codes or identifying marks    that appear on the label or container (usually these are stamped or    embossed on the lids of canned products.) Give the name and address of    the store where the product was purchased and the date of purchase.    Keep any opened or unopened containers or packages of the product    (don't open packages if you haven't already done so). You should also    report the problem to the manufacturer or distributor shown on the    label and to the store where you purchased the product. Limits of Authority    FDA does not regulate prices of products or sales practices of stores.    FDA cannot control the selection of food or sanitation in schools,    prisons, or other institutions. FDA cannot enforce terms of    guarantees, warranties or coupons, nor can it require stores or    manufacturers to give refunds or disclose product recipes or formulas.    Your local Better Business Bureau of Consumer Affairs may be able to    help with some of these problems.

May be I missed the very early discussion on SC.  What is FDA's position of it? Is the FDA allowing it OTC because it claims to be ZnP or because it is imported for personal use or what? Is there such a thing as importing for personal use to bypass FDA? The company, the importer, and the distributors are the ones who are legally responsible for meeting FDA regulations.  Ask them what their agreement is with the FDA. As for personal use, see the attached. John - - - -     U. S. Food and Drug Administration     Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition     FDA Backgrounder: May 1992                               IMPORTS AND FDA . . . Inspections    With the exception of most meat and poultry, which are regulated by    the U.S. Department of Agriculture, all food, drugs, cosmetics,    medical devices, and electronic products that emit radiation are    subject to examination by FDA when they arrive in the United States.    By law, all of these products must meet the same standards as domestic    goods. Imported foods must be pure, wholesome, safe to eat, and    produced under sanitary conditions; drugs and devices must be safe and    effective; cosmetics must be safe and made from approved ingredients;    and all labeling and packaging must be informative and truthful. . . . Drug Shipments    While most FDA-regulated imports are foods, drug shipments present a    special challenge to agency inspectors. FDA randomly checks and    samples imported drugs.    Drugs entering the United States for sale must be FDA-approved    products from approved suppliers and must meet U.S. requirements for    purity and strength. In addition, inspectors check labels and look for    tamper-resistant packaging and signs of possible contamination, such    as cracked vials and broken bottles. As with other imports, potential    problem drugs are targeted in advance for sampling and detention.    FDA permits its field offices to use discretion in allowing entry of    small, personal use quantities (generally not more than a    three-month supply) of foreign drugs not approved in the United    States. This applies in cases in which satisfactory treatment for the    condition is not available in this country, the drugs pose no    unreasonable safety risk, and their use is not promoted in the United    States. . . .