Tri Luma (Fluocinolone/Hydroquinone/Tretinoin)

What is Tri Luma?

Tri-Luma is a cream that contains three different medications, Hydroquinone (a reversible skin bleaching agent), Tretinoin (a retinoid that increases skin shedding), and Fluocinolone (a medium strength corticosteroid that reduces itching, swelling, or redness).

What is Tri Luma used for?

Tri-Luma is used to treat melasma on the face. Melasma is a condition of dark patchy areas on the skin (particularly on the cheeks and forehead). The medication may improve the condition but does not cure melasma.

How does Tri Luma work?

The three ingredients in Tri-Luma, namely hydroquinone, tretinoin, and fluocinolone work as skin bleaching agent, skin shedding agent, and swelling/redness reducing agent, respectively. This is how Tri-Luma works.

How to use Tri Luma

Tri-Luma should be used in the manner prescribed by the doctor. Using it for longer periods or in larger amounts than recommended may increase side effects.

Before applying the medicine, wash your hands and gently clean the affected area of the skin with a mild skin cleanser. After washing, pat your skin dry.

The medicine should be applied once daily, at bed time or as directed by the doctor. Remember to use it at the same time each night.

Tri Luma warnings and precautions

Prior to using Tri-Luma, inform your doctor if you have asthma or allergy to sulfites. Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (tanning beds or sunlamps) while using Tri-Luma. It may result in sunburn. Also avoid getting Tri-Luma in nose, eyes, lips or mouth. Wash immediately, if the medicine gets into these areas.

Do not apply it on dry, chapped, wind-burned, irritated, sunburned skin or on areas of wounds. Do not use harsh soaps, skin cleansers or other chemicals such as hair removers, wax, astringent, lime, etc as this may cause skin irritation. After using this medication, the skin may become more sensitive to weather extremes. Use a moisturizing cream or lotion to protect your skin.

Pregnant and lactating women should not apply the medicine without consulting their doctors.

What do I do if I have missed a Tri Luma dose?

If you have missed your Tri-Luma dose you can apply it as soon as you remember or wait until the next scheduled dose to apply the medicine.

What do I do if I have taken a Tri Luma overdose?

Tri-Luma is not expected to cause overdose symptoms. However, if you have used too much of this medicine, contact your doctor.

Tri Luma interactions

Before taking Tri-Luma, consult your doctor if you use a diuretic (water pill), a sulfa drug such as Bactrim, Septra, Cotrim; tetracycline (Robitet, Sumycin, Panmycin), demeclocycline (Declomycin), minocycline (Minocin, Dynacin, Vectrin), doxycycline (Monodox, Doryx, Vibra-Tabs, Vibramycin); a fluoroquinolone antibiotic such as levofloxacin (Levaquin), ciprofloxacin (Cipro); phenothiazines such as prochlorperazine (Compazine), thioridazine (Mellaril), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), mesoridazine (Serentil), fluphenazine (Prolixin), trifluperazine (Stelazine), or perphenazine (Trilafon). The interaction can make your skin more sensitive to artificial or natural sunlight.

Also, do not start using a new medicine without consulting your doctor.

Tri Luma side effects

Tri-Luma side effects include hives, severe skin irritation, oozing, scaling, blistering, crusting, darkening of treated skin, severe burning or swelling of skin, breathing difficulty; irritation in eyes, nose or mouth; swelling of face, tongue, lips or throat and other allergic reactions. If you get any of these side effects after using Tri-Luma, stop taking the medicine and contact your doctor.

Burning, swelling, dryness, stinging, peeling, tingling, itching, mild redness, skin rash, acne, skin bumps or blisters are some less serious side effects of Tri-Luma.