Topical wound healing agent
Birch bark extracts (betulin)
Brand names: Filsuvez, Episalvan
Adult dose
Dose: Apply 1mm layer to wound at each dressing change
Route: Topical
Frequency: At dressing changes
Clinical pearls
- Hereditary epidermolysis bullosa partial-thickness wounds — NICE TA evaluation
- DEBRA UK: specialist tertiary referral
- Specialist dermatology
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to birch / soya
Side effects
- Wound complications
- Local hypersensitivity
- Pruritus
- Pain
Monitoring
- Wound healing
- Local tolerance
Reference: BNF; NICE TA evaluation; DEBRA UK; SmPC; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/birch-bark-extracts/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
Pathways
- Suspicious Pigmented Lesion — Melanoma Pathway · NICE NG14 2015 / BAD
- Cellulitis and Erysipelas · NICE NG141 2019 / CREST
- Psoriasis — Severity Assessment and Step-Up Therapy · NICE NG153 2019 / BAD
- Atopic Eczema — Assessment and Step-Up Therapy · NICE NG95 2023
- Urticaria and Angioedema · BSACI / EAACI Guidelines 2022
- Acne Vulgaris — Grading and Treatment · NICE NG198 2021 / BAD