Ichthyol ointment for the treatment of skin diseases, useful properties of the product, effectiveness in the treatment of boils, acne, application rules. Ichthyol ointment is a drug that is actively used in cosmetology to eliminate acne on the skin. It is an antiseptic, analgesic, disinfectant, anti-inflammatory agent.
Useful properties of ichthyol ointment
Ichthyol ointment is based on ichthyol, which is an ammonium salt of sulfonic acids from shale oil, which is obtained from kerogen. Kerogen is a shale formed from phytoplankton and algae. The auxiliary substance is petroleum jelly or lanolin.
This composition provides a lot of useful properties of ichthyol ointment. These include:
- Antiseptic property … Fights the formation of pus, prevents tissue decomposition.
- Antibacterial property … Destroys bacteria that cause inflammation in the skin, such as Staphylococcus aureus and yeast-like fungi. The exception is gram-negative microorganisms.
- Anesthetic action … Reduces pain syndrome.
- Anti-inflammatory property … By killing pathogens, it helps to reduce inflammation. It also slows down the transfer of leukocytes to the focus of inflammation and the unification of inflammatory mediators.
- Antipruritic property … Reduces irritation associated with itching. Prevents keratinization of the skin, softening it and preventing the formation of peeling.
- Local irritant property … Provides acceleration of cell regeneration processes by stimulating metabolic processes.
With spot application, the active substance of the ointment is practically not absorbed into healthy cells, does not penetrate into the bloodstream. And the ingested small amount of ichthyol is excreted through the intestines.
Contraindications to the use of ichthyol ointment
Among the direct contraindications to treatment with ichthyol ointment is only an individual intolerance to this drug, which can cause various kinds of allergic reactions, including the appearance of more acne, itching.
A susceptibility test can be performed before abandoning use out of concern. To do this, apply a small amount to the most sensitive area of the body, such as the wrist, where the skin is thinnest. The desired exposure time during the test is from 10 hours, when the reaction may appear.
The development of allergies can occur with prolonged use. In this case, you should completely abandon the ointment or temporarily suspend the course of treatment. You can resume the course only after making sure that the allergy was caused by some other factor - food, the environment, the use of other medicines, etc.
Let's describe some of the limitations of the application:
- It is also not recommended to use the ointment for persons under 12 years of age and with sensitive skin.
- Pregnancy and lactation are not contraindications, because the product is not toxic and does not penetrate into the blood. It is important to ensure that ichthyol does not get on the nipples before feeding. its entry into the gastrointestinal tract is undesirable.
- Do not apply the product earlier than a week after chemical peeling or laser resurfacing.
- The limitation is also related to the use case: the ointment is applied only externally, so avoid applying to open wounds and mucous membranes. If the drug enters the gastrointestinal tract, you should rinse the stomach or take sorbents.
- The use of ichthyol ointment excludes the use of other medicines, for example, iodine, on the same area of the skin.
If you use ichthyol ointment according to the instructions, then an overdose is impossible.
Features of the use of ichthyol ointment
Ichthyol ointment performs several functions that provide it with one of the first places in the ranking of remedies for combating skin ailments. Let's consider the most common options for its application.
How to use ichthyol ointment for boils
The appearance of boils on the skin is provided by the inflammatory process, which begins with metabolic disorders or damage to the skin, further contamination of the wound. A boil is a complex inflammation of the sebaceous gland, hair follicle and surrounding connective tissue, is a purulent-necrotic process. The cause of its development is pyogenic bacteria.
This disease goes through several stages:
- Contamination of the skin area and the ingress of pathogenic microbes.
- Development of the inflammatory process (the appearance of a pustule with a rod, redness of the surrounding area).
- Ripening of the boil, accompanied by pain, possibly an increase in temperature and inflammation of the lymph nodes located nearby.
- Rejection of necrotic tissue.
- Healing, scarring.
Thanks to this description, you can easily diagnose furunculosis in time and avoid incorrect and untimely treatment. It is known that after the stage of complete healing, redness and scars may remain. To avoid their appearance, medications should be used on time.
By itself, a boil is similar to a pimple, but it carries a great danger, especially if treated incorrectly. It is known that the use of mechanical removal of boils is strictly prohibited, because there is a great danger of pus entering the bloodstream with further complications.
Ichthyol ointment is recognized as an excellent remedy in the fight against boils. In this case, with its help, it is easier for the body to cope with the cause of the appearance of furunculosis - staphylococcus or another type of bacteria. In the background - the acceleration of the process of rejection of necrotic tissues, which leads to a faster cleansing of the affected area.
Anesthesia is also an important property. And at the end, a local irritating function is triggered, which helps to accelerate tissue regeneration. With all this, the duration of all existing stages of development of furunculosis is significantly reduced.
We describe the provisions of the correct use of ichthyol ointment for the treatment of boils:
- The best moment to start treatment is the stage of the onset of purulent inclusions. In this case, you can completely avoid the further development of the boil and the appearance of seals, scars, redness.
- For treatment of one boil, use approximately 2 g of the product.
- Processing should be done pointwise. A piece of gauze or cotton wool must be applied to the applied ointment, bandaged or sealed with adhesive plaster.
- The exposure should last 8-10 hours. During the day, the bandage can be changed more often - every 3-4 hours.
- After removing the compress, rinse the area with running water, and after complete drying, you can repeat the treatment.
- If a boil has appeared on the face, then the ointment should be diluted with glycerin.
- It is possible to jointly use ointments and antibiotics for internal use, but only as directed by a doctor.
- The maximum course until complete recovery is 3-5 days.
Using ichthyol ointment for acne
Acne is a lack of skin, the causes of which there are several. For example, heredity, stress, excessively oily skin, hormonal disorders, unhealthy diet, medication, polluted environment, and more. Pimples may appear in small numbers or cover large areas of the skin (face, back, forearms).
When dealing with such a defect, it is best to eliminate the cause of the appearance, but it is not always possible to correctly determine it. Therefore, you should be more attentive to your body, improve nutrition, consume enough vitamins, improve hygiene, get rid of bad habits, go in for sports, for example, jogging in the fresh air.
These methods are effective in the long run. But to quickly get rid of acne that has arisen, anti-inflammatory drugs help. One of the most effective is ichthyol ointment, which solves the problem at the cellular level.
Principles of acne treatment with ichthyol ointment:
- Using ichthyol in the form of 10 or 20% ointment, treat only the pimple itself and nearby skin 2-3 mm.
- In the fight against small pimples, you can not use compresses, the patch, the treated area can be left "in the fresh air."
- Acne that goes deep into the skin is best treated with a patch. To do this, apply a small amount of ointment to the affected area, and then cover with a plaster. This dressing can be done at night. In the morning, it will be enough to wash off the remnants of the product and process, for example, aloe.
- Most often, overnight ichthyol ointment, even 10 percent, will deal with pimples and completely draw out pus. However, it also happens that pus rises from the skin, but remains under the film. In this case, it is better to reapply the drug. However, if there is no time to wait, you can go to extreme measures, which, by the way, are not recommended by medical specialists. So, take a sewing needle, dip it in an alcohol solution and carefully open the top film so that the contents can drain out. At the end, you should definitely treat it with a solution of chlorhexiddine or aloe to prevent infection.
- Try to avoid mechanical stress, do not rub in the ointment, but simply apply it with a gentle motion.
Ointment with ichthyol for subcutaneous acne
A subcutaneous or internal pimple is not only a cosmetic defect, it can turn into a serious inflammatory process. This type of acne looks like a reddish bump. The duration of maturation is long enough, in the developmental stage, the internal pimple gradually becomes whitish, a ball is felt inside, which indicates an accumulation of pus. Pain is also possible. The cause is the clogging of the sebaceous gland with sebum due to the disruption of its work. A rash (multiple subcutaneous acne) may develop.
The difficulty in getting rid of this kind of skin problems lies in the incorrect determination of the stage of development, as well as in the use of undesirable measures to eliminate them, for example, extrusion. The most effective and safe treatment option is the use of ichthyol ointment.
Let's describe the features of using the ointment with ichthyol:
- In the case of a rash from subcutaneous acne, continuous application of the product is allowed.
- The ointment should be applied to cleansed skin.
- During the period of treatment for such an ailment, you should abandon some cosmetics that can clog pores and contain lanolin, for example, powder, blush, tonal and other dense creams.
- The course of treatment is longer than when dealing with external acne or ripe boils.
Ichthyol in the form of an ointment for blackheads
In case of malfunctions in the body (violation of metabolic processes, hormonal changes, etc.), the activity of the sebaceous gland can be disrupted, which manifests itself in the production of an excess amount of secretion. Because of which, a sebaceous-horny plug, which clogs the gland, is formed, consisting of excess sebum and dead cells.
The first stage of this process is characterized by the absence of an inflammatory process, but whiteheads or the so-called closed comedone are formed.
In the second stage, the contents can break out, after which blackheads or open comedones are formed, which spoil the appearance of the skin, enlarge the pores, if not dealt with.
Principles of treating blackheads with ichthyol ointment:
- The effect of ichthyol ointment in the treatment of white and black spots is not aimed at removing the contents, but at dissolving the cork.
- Try to process it pointwise, with the exception of areas with massive lesions (nose, part of the chin, the area of the forehead between the eyebrows).
- It is enough to apply a thin layer, because such problems are not associated with the deep layers of the epidermis. You do not need to apply a compress.
- The exposure time of the agent should be at least an hour. In the best case, extend the procedure up to 2 hours.
- Rinse off the preparation with clean water, you can use a cotton swab, which will partially collect the dissolved plugs. Use tar soap to remove large amounts of ointment.
- A few hours after the end of the action, you can treat with a cosmetic product to narrow the pores or aloe.
Ichthyol ointment: instructions for use for other skin imperfections
Among other skin problems that ichthyol ointment successfully fights with, eczema, burns, and erysipelas are distinguished.
Consider the features of treatment with ichthyol of the described ailments:
- Treatment, such as erysipelas, is not only related to the treatment of the affected areas. Along with the external drug, antibiotics and other oral medications are used. In this case, the rule of prohibition on the use of additional external preparations, especially those containing iodine, heavy metal salts and alkaloids, is also triggered. an unpredictable chemical reaction may occur.
- Ichthyol ointment can and should be used as first aid in the event of radiation, thermal, electrical and chemical burns of 1-3 degrees, as well as in the recovery period, in order to prevent complications, tissue infection. In this case, ichthyol ointment provides pain relief, reduces inflammation, prevents bacterial growth, and also stimulates cells to regenerate. It is necessary to apply the product systematically, 1-2 times a day, covering the treated areas with a gauze napkin and fixing it with a bandage or plaster.
- The method of application for eczema is the same as described earlier. It is worth remembering that the disease will not go away faster if you apply more funds. Therefore, use a small amount and lubricate with a thin layer.
How to use ichthyol ointment for acne - watch the video:
Ichthyol ointment is rightfully an effective remedy in the treatment of not only skin diseases, this drug is actively used in gynecology, but for this area it is produced in suppositories.
