Ichthyol ointment: application in various situations

If there is a medicine that can be said to be time-tested, then this is ichthyol ointment. The use of the drug began in the middle of the 20th century, and although many refuse to use this drug because of its specific color and odor, it has become widely accepted and recognized by consumers.

Description of the medicament

The drug is applied externally, the distinctive feature of the medicine is the brown or black color of the substance, as well as the unpleasant smell of tar. Pharmaceutical industry produces two types of this ointment - 10% and 20%. The active substance is ichthyol, and the auxiliary substance is medical Vaseline. The product is available in tubes, glass banks of dark glass for 25, 800, 1800 grams.

Ichthyol ointment: what is it for?

The remedy has a wide spectrum of action and is used in various fields of medicine. For example, with suppuration, ichthyol ointment is most often used. Its use is generally associated, as a rule, with skin diseases. This, for example, acne, various rashes, furunculosis, burns, etc. Also, the ointment is used in gynecology for the treatment of inflammatory processes. Instructions for use of the remedy indicate that it can be used for inflammation of the joints, and even to pull a splinter out of the skin. In the fight against acne is also effectively cope with ichthyol ointment. Its use is so successful due to the antiseptic properties of the remedy. The drug is able to have a protective effect from the sun, but it can not be used with other products that contain zinc oxide. As you can see, the drug has a fairly wide range of applications.

How does ichthyol ointment work?

Experts' comments about this drug, despite its specific color and unpleasant odor, are exceptionally positive. This is due to the fact that the medicine has a number of undeniable advantages in comparison with other drugs, similar to it on the mechanism of action.

Perhaps one of the most important qualities of this ointment is that it is able to penetrate deep into the skin, under its upper layers. Such an action can not boast of any other drug. Due to the influence of ichthyol, swelling, pain, and inflammation decrease. Ichthyol ointment is able to improve blood flow in tissues, supplying them with important substances and oxygen. Simultaneously, the process of removing the decay products is accelerated.

Another wonderful property of this remedy is that it can influence the human pain receptors, reducing swelling and soreness. And after applying the ointment, the patient has an increase in the pain threshold, that is, to cause the same pain to the person, it will take a stronger effect on his body.

The next feature of the drug is that it is capable of destroying the protein of the causative agent of the disease - this is so-called denaturation. This effect is due to the high content of sulfur compounds in the preparation. Due to this property, after certain processes, the organisms causing the disease die.

Another plus of this remedy is an extensive field of application and a minimum of contraindications. After all, the use of ointment can be prohibited only in case of individual intolerance of the components of the remedy. Although, despite this, the ointment is usually not used to treat patients who have not reached the age of 12 years.

How to use ichthyol ointment

According to the instructions to the medicine "Ihtiol ointment", its application can only be external. The method of its application is simple enough, you just have to spread a thin layer of the affected area, without rubbing the remedy. After this, a place of application of ichthyol is applied a gauze bandage. At the end of the procedure, you must wash your hands with soap and water. Usually such manipulations are carried out two or three times a day. But, depending on the disease and its nature, the attending physician can prescribe another course of treatment.