“8 Trek” is a name people encounter on an ointment, usually in connection with skin problems. It does not appear in South Africa’s Medicine Price Registry, so its contents cannot be confirmed here. This guide explains how to establish what your tub contains, and how skin ointments differ.
What is 8 Trek?
We cannot tell you what your tub of 8 Trek contains, and this page will not guess.
A search of the South African Medicine Price Registry returns no product under this name. Possible explanations:
- It may be a general-sale or complementary product, which follow different regulatory routes and often do not appear in a medicine price registry.
- It may be a traditional or household remedy, of which South Africa has many long-established examples.
- It may be spelled differently on the actual packaging.
- It may be an imported product, or a discontinued one.
Read the tub. A legitimate product lists its ingredients, states what it is for, and says whether it is for external use only.
“Ointment” tells you the formulation, not the contents. Ointments are greasy, occlusive preparations that hold moisture in and stay on the skin longer than creams — a good vehicle for many quite different active ingredients, and for none at all.
What is 8 Trek commonly used for?
People asking about this product are generally asking in the context of skin complaints — rashes, itching, dryness, cuts, boils or minor infections.
Without knowing the contents, no honest page can say what a particular tub does. To find out:
- Read the label, including the ingredient list and whether it says “for external use only.”
- Look for a registration number, often formatted like
28/2.7/0019, or a complementary medicine designation. - Take the tub to a pharmacist — free, quick, and the most reliable option.
- Ask whoever supplied or recommended it.
Knowing which type of skin preparation you have matters a great deal, because using the wrong one actively makes some conditions worse:
| Type | Examples | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Topical corticosteroids | Hydrocortisone, betamethasone | Inflammation — eczema, dermatitis |
| Topical antifungals | Clotrimazole, miconazole | Ringworm, thrush, athlete’s foot |
| Topical antibiotics | Mupirocin, fusidic acid | Bacterial infections — impetigo, infected wounds |
| Combination steroid + antibiotic | Fucibet | Inflamed and infected skin |
| Antiseptics | Chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine | Cleaning wounds |
| Emollients | Aqueous cream, petroleum jelly | Moisturising; no active drug |
| Counter-irritants | Methyl salicylate, camphor balms | Aches; external use only |
The classic mistake is using a steroid on a fungal rash. It suppresses the local immune response, so the infection spreads while the redness temporarily fades — turning ringworm into an extensive, atypical rash that is harder to diagnose and treat. The opposite mistake — an antifungal on eczema — simply does nothing.
How 8 Trek fits into this medicine category
This page sits in skin and wound care. Once you know what your tub contains, look that ingredient up directly. See the skin and wound care medicines hub.
A note on aromatic and counter-irritant balms, since many traditional ointments belong to that group. Products containing methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen) or camphor are seriously toxic if swallowed — a small amount can be dangerous to a child. If your tub is an aromatic balm, treat it as external-use-only and keep it well out of reach of children unless the label clearly says otherwise.
What to check before using 8 Trek
Whatever the product turns out to be:
- Identify the ingredients before using it.
- Establish whether it is for external use only. Never swallow a preparation intended for skin.
- Do not apply it to broken skin, open wounds, eyes or mucous membranes unless the label says you may — absorption through damaged skin is much higher and less predictable.
- Test a small area first if you have sensitive skin.
- Wash your hands after applying, and do not share the tub — a used tub can transfer infection between people.
- Do not use it on a baby or young child without advice.
- Check the expiry date, and that the seal is intact.
- Be cautious with anything sold loose, unlabelled or repackaged.
Ask a pharmacist or doctor specifically if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have diabetes, have a weakened immune system, or the rash is on the face or genitals.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about every remedy you use. People frequently omit topical products when asked what they take, and that omission matters — particularly for steroid-containing preparations, which have systemic effects with prolonged use.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
Stop and seek advice if you develop:
- Increasing redness, swelling, itching, burning or a spreading rash at the site. This may be a reaction to the product rather than the original condition worsening — allergic contact dermatitis is easily mistaken for treatment failure.
- Blistering or peeling skin.
- Swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing.
Seek medical attention promptly if:
- Redness is spreading, particularly with a defined advancing edge, or red streaks run from the area.
- Pain, swelling or warmth is increasing, or there is pus.
- You develop fever, or feel generally unwell — spreading infection needs oral antibiotics, not a cream.
- The rash is on the face, near the eye, or over a joint.
- The rash is not improving after about a week, or is changing character.
- You have diabetes or a weakened immune system, or the problem is on the foot — use a lower threshold in these cases.
- A rash appears with a fever and does not fade when pressed with a glass — seek urgent care.
- A child’s rash is not settling.
If the product is swallowed — particularly by a child — contact a doctor or poison centre immediately with the container. Do not induce vomiting.
If a rash keeps returning, it needs a diagnosis rather than an ongoing supply of ointment. Identifying whether it is eczema, a fungal infection, a contact allergy or something else determines which treatment will actually work.
Related medicine guides
Frequently asked questions
What is 8 Trek ointment used for? We cannot say. No product under this name appears in South Africa’s Medicine Price Registry, so its contents are not established. Read the label or ask a pharmacist.
Why is it not in the registry? It may be a general-sale, complementary or traditional product, which follow different regulatory routes. That does not make it illegitimate.
How do I find out what it contains? Read the ingredient list on the tub, and take it to a pharmacist. Identification is free and quick.
Can I use it on any rash? Not safely. A steroid used on a fungal rash makes it spread; an antifungal on eczema does nothing. Identify the product and the rash first.
Is it safe for children? That cannot be answered for an unidentified product. Some aromatic balm ingredients are dangerous to children even in small swallowed amounts.
Can I put it on a wound? Not until you know what it is. Many preparations should not go on broken skin, where absorption is much higher.
What if it gets swallowed? Contact a doctor or poison centre immediately with the container, and do not induce vomiting.
When should I see a doctor instead? If redness is spreading, there are red streaks or pus, you have fever, or the rash is not improving after about a week.