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Added Extra,
Added Confidence, Adex Gel


An emollient with an added ancillary anti‑inflammatory action

Adex products

Watch the video to see how Adex Gel differs from other emollients


  • Specially formulated for dry skin conditions prone to inflammation, such as atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, other forms of eczema and psoriasis
  • An easily absorbed, highly moisturising gel emollient with an ancillary anti‑inflammatory medicinal substance to help reduce inflammation and redness
  • Can be used continuously, or for as long as necessary, all over the body including on the face, hands and flexures
  • Adex Gel may help reduce the need for topical corticosteroids1, 2
    Does not contain corticosteroids
  • Suitable for patients aged 1 year +

What is Adex Gel?

Adex Gel emollient offers an effective, simple and different approach to the treatment and management of dry skin conditions prone to inflammation, such as mild to moderate atopic eczema, contact dermatitis, other forms of eczema and psoriasis.

Adex Gel emollient can also help reduce inflammation and redness because Adex Gel provides added extra anti‑inflammatory action.

Adex Gel emollient contains a high level of oils (30%) and the humectant glycerol in an elegant gel formulation. Its ancillary anti‑inflammatory action is provided by nicotinamide (4%), a medicinal substance which is a form of vitamin B3, which has been shown to exhibit noticeable anti‑inflammatory action.

Adex Gel - bridges the gap between plain emollients and more potent treatments. Adex Gel may help reduce reliance on more potent topical treatments such as corticosteroids.1,2

Adex Gel is a versatile treatment for dry skin prone to inflammation. Adex Gel can be used all over and for as long as necessary – whether only occasionally, such as during flares, or continuously.

A Simple Approach

Adex Gel provides a simplified treatment and management regimen because its primary emollient action is supplemented with an ancillary anti‑inflammatory medicinal substance.

Adex Gel is a simple, novel treatment with directions for use which are easy for patients to follow, giving them confidence to manage their condition.

Adex Gel may help improve patient outcomes by offering a novel emollient preparation which is both highly moisturising and has an ancillary anti-inflammatory action, making adherence simple and convenient.
Adex Gel can be used on its own to manage dry skin conditions and help reduce inflammation and redness.

Simple to prescribe. Simple to use.

Adex Gel is suitable for patients who:

  • Would like a simple routine to help adherence
  • Are looking for an intermediate step in their management plan, between emollient alone and emollient plus topical corticosteroids
  • Would prefer not to restart topical corticosteroids if possible
  • Need help to avoid overuse of topical corticosteroids
  • Are affected on areas such as the face where the skin is thinner
  • Are 1 years old or over

Frees up time – Adex Gel is a convenient emollient with an ancillary anti-inflammatory medicinal substance in a single product*

*Adex Gel may also be used in conjunction with a topical corticosteroid (or immunomodulator) if considered necessary

  1. Djokic-Gallagher J. et al. Steroid-sparing effects and acceptability of a new skin gel containing the anti-inflammatory medicinal substance-nicotinamide. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology 2019;12:545-552.
  2. Gallagher J. et al. Performance of Adex Gel: A retrospective survey of healthcare professionals with an interest in dermatology. Data presented at the Austrian Society for Dermatology and Venereology (OGDV) Science Days, September 2022, Bad Gastein, Austria.
All Doublebase Emollient Gel products

Adex Gel Information

  • Adex Gel emollient is a useful treatment option to manage dry skin conditions predisposed to flare-ups.
  • Adex Gel is the first and only product in the Drug Tariff emollient class - 'Preparations containing nicotinamide'
  • Adex Gel's primary emollient action is supplemented with an anti-inflammatory - making it a simple and convenient option.
  • Adex Gel emollient can be used routinely, for as long as necessary, or intermittently e.g. during flares.

Available as a 500g pump pack, and 100g tube, at NHS prices of £5.99 and £2.69 respectively.

Adex Gel Evidence

  • In a trial involving eczema and psoriasis patients using Adex Gel, nearly 95% of patients stated that their skin condition benefited from using Adex Gel, and the Medical Investigator considered that for nearly all patients Adex Gel was a helpful and convenient addition to their treatment regime.1
  • Approximately half of the patients reported that they needed to use less of their other anti-inflammatory treatments. The remainder reported that they used about the same, and nobody stated that they used more of their anti-inflammatory treatments.1
  • Patients’ responses in relation to clinical performance and key acceptability attributes were very positive, ranging from 81% to 100%.1

Patient Feedback on Performance and Acceptability – percentage of patients that “agreed” or “agreed strongly”1

Question Positive responses
The consistency of the gel is pleasant 95.3%
The gel is easy to apply 100%
The gel absorbs well into my skin 93.0%
The gel soothes my skin 86.0%
The gel makes my skin feel softer 81.4%
The gel makes my skin feel comfortable 86.0%
The gel makes my skin feel smoother 83.7%
The gel makes my skin feel moisturised 90.7%

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  1. Djokic-Gallagher J. et al. Steroid-sparing effects and acceptability of a new skin gel containing the anti‑inflammatory medicinal substance-nicotinamide. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology 2019;12:545-552.

Performance of Adex Gel: A retrospective survey of healthcare professionals with an interest in dermatology

  • In a survey of 94 healthcare professionals with an interest in Dermatology, from primary and secondary care, the majority considered Adex Gel to be a beneficial treatment for atopic eczema, contact dermatitis, other forms of eczema, psoriasis and other dry and inflamed skin conditions.2
Reduces Steriod Use Graph thumbnail
Results
  • 66% stated it reduced steroid or other anti-inflammatory use

  • 90% considered Adex Gel a beneficial treatment for dry and inflamed skin conditions

  • 87% stated it helped reduce redness/inflammation

  • 85% stated it reduced itch

  • Overall 94% of the surveyed HCPs stated they would recommend Adex Gel to other HCPs.


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  1. Gallagher J. et al. Performance of Adex Gel: A retrospective survey of healthcare professionals with an interest in dermatology. Data presented at the Austrian Society for Dermatology and Venereology (OGDV) Science Days, September 2022, Bad Gastein, Austria.

Adex Gel repairing the skin barrier

  • When applied to SLS provoked dry and irritated skin for 28 days3 Adex Gel:
  • Achieved significant improvement in skin barrier function within 7 days (as opposed to 14 days if no treatment was used)

  • Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) values returned to normal by day 7 showing that Adex Gel helps the skin barrier to repair more quickly when damaged

  • Provided effective skin hydration as shown by higher stratum corneum hydration values (corneometry) in comparison to no treatment

  1. Lukic M. et al. Novel anti-inflammatory emollient gel: assessment of efficacy in SLS provoked/irritated skin. Data presented at the 6th Congress of Skin Inflammation and Psoriasis International Network (SPIN), April 2019, Paris, France.

Adex Gel hydration study compared to ZBC¥

  • After a single application, Adex Gel provided statistically significantly greater hydration over 24 hours compared to ZBC.4 In an investigator-blinded ex-vivo human skin study, hydration was compared over a 24 hour period following single applications of two emollient formulations - Adex Gel and ZBC. The mean area under the curve (AUC), for the change from baseline hydration, for Adex Gel was greater than that for ZBC and this difference was highly statistically significant (p < 0.0001).
Adex Gel Hydration Study thumbnail
Adex Gel Study Poster thumbnail

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ZBC¥ = Zerobase® Emollient Cream registered trademark of Thornton & Ross Ltd.

  1. Antonijevic M. and Novac O. Skin hydration: Ex-vivo comparison of two emollients, Adex Gel and Zerobase Emollient Cream. Data presented at the 16th Annual Maui Derm for Dermatologists, January 2020, Maui, USA.