Hydrocortisone

Value-based healthcare can be enabled by simple innovations like facial topical creams to promote facemask compliance. Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, Salem Pain Clinic Small, low-cost innovations, like simple facial cream, can quietly transform healthcare by improving comfort, compliance, and outcomes in the true spirit of value-based care” — Olumuyiwa Bamgbade SURREY, BC, CANADA, July 10, 2025 / EINPresswire.com / -- During the COVID-19 pandemic, personal protective equipment (PPE) was essential to public health and clinical care. However, prolonged facemask use often causes discomfort and skin issues, undermining compliance among healthcare workers and patients. A clinical study offered a compelling solution: applying low-cost topical facial creams to mitigate mask-related irritation and boost user adherence. This simple intervention holds powerful implications for value-based healthcare (VBHC), a model that rewards outcomes and cost-effectiveness rather than volume of services. Dr. Olumuyiwa Bamgbade led the peer-reviewed study at the specialized Salem Anaesthesia Pain Clinic . The study demonstrated that creams such as lidocaine gel, hydrocortisone, zinc oxide, and petrolatum significantly improved facial comfort, reduced redness and pain, and enhanced mask-wearing compliance. Lidocaine gel showed the highest effectiveness in reducing discomfort and increasing user satisfaction. These effects were achieved at minimal cost, especially compared to more expensive alternatives like hydrogel pads or foam dressings. From a VBHC perspective, this exemplifies a high-value intervention: low cost, non-invasive, easy to implement, and directly improving clinical and behavioral outcomes. VBHC emphasizes clinical success, patient experience, and operational efficiency. Facemask non-compliance may cause increased disease transmission, avoidable infections, staff shortages, and systemic strain, all degrade value. By increasing comfort and adherence, topical creams act as enablers of public health protocols, enhancing personal safety and system-wide resilience. The intervention also reduces the burden on dermatology services and occupational health departments, which would otherwise address mask-induced dermatitis or pressure injuries. The study provides a model for integrating patient-centered innovations into routine care. Rather than mandating compliance through punitive or top-down policies, the use of creams respects individual comfort and autonomy, aligning with the VBHC goal of improving health through dignified, respectful care. It also aligns with preventive strategies that prioritize upstream interventions over downstream complications. For policy-makers and healthcare administrators, this research underscores the importance of frontline feedback, evidence-based experimentation, and scalability in achieving value. Topical creams could be extended to areas where device-related discomfort compromises compliance, such as oxygen masks, CPAP interfaces, or prosthetics. This kind of practical innovation is desirable and essential in resource-constrained settings, where cost-effectiveness is paramount. To truly implement value-based healthcare, we must recognize and support grassroots innovations that make care more human, effective, and sustainable. Dr. Bamgbade is a healthcare leader with an interest in value-based healthcare delivery. He is a specialist physician trained in Nigeria, Britain, the USA, and South Korea. He is an adjunct professor at institutions in Africa, Europe, and North America. He has collaborated with researchers in Nigeria, Iran, Armenia, Zambia, China, Rwanda, the USA, Kenya, South Africa, Britain, Tanzania, Namibia, Australia, Botswana, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Jamaica, and Canada. He has published 45 scientific papers in PubMed-indexed journals. He is the director of Salem Pain Clinic, a specialist and research clinic in Surrey, BC, Canada. Dr Bamgbade and Salem Pain Clinic focus on researching and managing pain, insomnia, value-based care, health equity, injury rehabilitation, neuropathy, societal safety, substance misuse, medical sociology, public health, medicolegal science, and perioperative care. Reference Bamgbade OA, Richards RN, Mwaba M, Ajirenike RN, Metekia LM, Olatunji BT. Facial topical cream promotes facemask tolerability and compliance during COVID-19 pandemic. J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2022;17(3):441-447. Olumuyiwa Bamgbade Salem Anaesthesia Pain Clinic +1 778-628-6600 salem.painclinic@gmail.com Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Other Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

DEER PARK, Ill., June 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc (“Eton” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ETON), an innovative pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing treatments for rare diseases, today announced that it will be added to the broad-market Russell 3000® and small-cap Russell 2000® Indexes, effective after the U.S. market closes on June 27, as part of the 2025 Russell Indexes reconstitution. “Eton’s addition to the Russell 2000 and Russell 3000 Indexes is a significant milestone and recognizes the tremendous shareholder value we’ve generated over the past twelve months. We’re proud to be part of these important market performance benchmarks and look forward to expanding our visibility among investors as we continue bringing much needed treatments to patients with ultra-rare conditions,” said Sean Brynjelsen, CEO of Eton Pharmaceuticals. Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. For more information on the Russell 3000® Index and the Russell indexes reconstitution, visit the “Russell Reconstitution” section on the FTSE Russell website. About Eton Pharmaceuticals Eton is an innovative pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing treatments for rare diseases. The Company currently has eight commercial rare disease products: KHINDIVI®, INCRELEX®, ALKINDI SPRINKLE®, GALZIN®, PKU GOLIKE®, Carglumic Acid, Betaine Anhydrous, and Nitisinone. The Company has five additional product candidates in late-stage development: ET-600, Amglidia®, ET-700, ET-800 and ZENEO® hydrocortisone autoinjector. For more information, please visit our website at www.etonpharma.com. Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements associated with the expected ability of Eton to undertake certain activities and accomplish certain goals and objectives. These statements include but are not limited to statements regarding Eton’s business strategy, Eton’s plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates, the safety and efficacy of Eton’s product candidates, Eton’s plans and expected timing with respect to regulatory filings and approvals, and the size and growth potential of the markets for Eton’s product candidates. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “goal,” “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Eton’s current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks associated with the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs. These and other risks concerning Eton’s development programs and financial position are described in additional detail in Eton’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Eton undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. Investor Relations:Lisa M. Wilson, In-Site Communications, Inc.T: 212-452-2793E: lwilson@insitecony.com Source: Eton Pharmaceuticals.