Furunculosis is an acute purulent inflammation of the hair follicle and the surrounding connective tissue. In addition to aesthetic inconveniences, the appearance of boils (especially in places where clothing rubs and on the head) is fraught with serious troubles - pain and complications. Ichthyol ointment for boils is a time-tested, effective and safe remedy.
Composition and effect of ichthyol ointment
Ichthyol ointment is available in 10 and 20 percent concentrations; pharmacies do not require a prescription for it. The drug is cheap. Factory packaging - a dark glass jar, a tube in a volume of 25 g. The ointment contains ichthyol (shale oil) in the indicated dosage, organically bound sulfur and petroleum jelly. The product has a dark color and a pungent odor; it should be stored in a place protected from light at a temperature of 12-15 degrees.
The pharmacological effect of the ointment is anti-inflammatory, local anesthetic. This is a good antiseptic that has a keratoplasty effect (promotes the restoration of the epidermis). The product applied to the area around the boil and onto it causes blood flow to the site of the lesion, promoting faster maturation of the boil and opening of its necrotic core. Ichthyol ointment draws out pus, relieves swelling, helps to tighten the hole without the formation of scars, and anesthetizes the inflamed area. Thanks to its antiseptic effect, the drug suppresses the growth of pathogenic flora on the skin and prevents infection from entering the wound. The process of pulling out an abscess with ichthyol does not cause any discomfort in the patient.
Boils: causes, symptoms, diagnosis
The main cause of furunculosis is an infection of staphylococcal or streptococcal etiology. A high concentration of pathogenic microflora on the surface of the skin facilitates the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the body. Most often, Staphylococcus aureus penetrates the dermis through open wounds, diaper rash and mechanically damaged skin.
Dermatologists identify several causes of boils:
- intoxication of the body by pathogenic microflora (the concentration of pathogenic microorganisms on the surface of the skin exceeds 90%);
- neglect of hygiene standards;
- weakened immune system;
- hypovitaminosis;
- diabetes;
- stress;
- taking pharmacological drugs;
- the presence of infectious diseases in the body in a chronic form;
- skin cancer;
- puberty in adolescents.
The appearance of boils is a disappointing signal for their “owner”. Inflamed ulcers often indicate the presence of infectious diseases in the body that have not been fully treated, or chronic inflammatory processes. Be that as it may, if you have furunculosis, you should consult a doctor as quickly as possible. Neglected formation requires expensive and lengthy therapy.
Doctors strictly prohibit squeezing out problematic pimples on your own. This is fraught with inflammation of the deep balls of the dermis, and in some cases, blood poisoning.
It is easy to diagnose furunculosis: at an early stage it is a slight painful redness on the skin, which quickly transforms into a compacted tubercle. Symptoms of the disease:
- After a short time, the temperature in the problem area of the skin rises, spreading to the entire body.
- Tactile contact with the formation is painful.
- Often, discomfort is aggravated by facial movements.
- A pustule with pus (yellow or white dot at the apex) is localized in the central part of the tubercle.
- Until the moment of complete ripening and opening, the tubercle rapidly “grows”.
The long-awaited relief is observed only after opening the abscess. It is safest to treat boils and the listed symptoms with ichthyol ointment.
How to use ichthyol ointment to treat boils
Effective treatment of boils with ichthyol ointment is due to its disinfectant and antiseptic properties. The drug is intended for external use only, which ensures a targeted effect on the problem area of the skin (including other dermatological ailments of infectious etiology).
Instructions for use for boils
Ichthyol ointment is used to treat various skin infections, neuralgia, arthritis, and hemorrhoids. The purpose of using the remedy for furunculosis is to accelerate the maturation of the abscess and the formation of a necrotic core at home.
A single case of suppuration cannot be called furunculosis. Doctors make a diagnosis of systemic abscesses when one boil appears after the previous one has healed, when they are located in groups. The disease is caused by a number of reasons, the main of which is a decrease in immunity due to diet, stress, and chronic diseases. Pathogenic flora - staphylococcus, which lives on the surface of the skin - multiplies, and the immune system is not able to give it an adequate response. The purulent contents of boils contain infection in a huge concentration; it is important that these secretions do not get on healthy areas of the skin, provoking the appearance of new ulcers.
The most dangerous boils are on the human head - due to the proximity of the suppuration to the brain, mucous membranes of the eyes and vital arteries. If a boil appears under the hairline or on the face, its treatment is prescribed and monitored by a doctor who knows how to prevent the infection from entering the bloodstream.
Specialists ensure that boils on the face do not leave scars, and that the ointment does not get on the mucous membranes during the course of treatment.
The appearance of boils on the back of the thigh and in intimate areas is fraught with serious consequences. Here, especially in women, there is little muscle tissue and blood flow is slow. Since adipose tissue decomposes faster than muscle tissue, inflammation will spread over a larger area, and the boil matures more slowly. Doctors recommend opening such suppurations surgically in a medical facility. The procedure is performed by a specialist under local anesthesia; the operation lasts 15-20 minutes. A thin tampon is inserted into the wound to drain and remove pus. After the procedure, the patient is shown dressings. The decision to open the suppuration is made by the doctor on an individual basis.
If treatment of a boil with ichthyol ointment at home is prescribed, before applying the product to the inflammation, it is necessary to prepare the surface of the skin by removing the pus that has come out of the wound and disinfecting the inflammation. Hydrogen peroxide is suitable for this purpose - it quickly disintegrates and evaporates, alcohol antiseptics and alcohol-based derivatives that enhance the effect of the ointment. After the skin has dried, the ichthyol is applied in a thin layer with clean hands to the area around the suppuration and the abscess itself. A sterile bandage is applied to the application site, secured with an adhesive plaster, and left for 6-7 hours. After handling the medicine, you should wash your hands thoroughly so as not to spread the infection to the skin. It is recommended to use medical disposable gloves.
How does ointment act on an abscess with pus?
Most purulent acne on the skin of the face and back are subcutaneous formations. They arise as a result of non-compliance with personal hygiene rules, increased sweating, and improper functioning of the sebaceous glands. Squeezing out an abscess without following the instructions can result in the spread of infection to surrounding tissues and an increase in the area of pathology. Ichthyol pharmaceutical ointment contains a lot of sulfur. The use of the substance helps to painlessly open the abscess. Under its action, inflammation in the pathological area decreases, purulent contents drain.
The pharmacy instructions mention the local irritant effect of the ointment. Its effect extends to sensitive nerve fibers. A few hours after application, irritation is replaced by a reverse process. The sensitivity of nerve endings decreases, which leads to changes in blood circulation in damaged tissues. Good microcirculation is accompanied by active metabolic processes. Wound healing after an abscess occurs faster due to increased elasticity of the layers of the epidermis.
According to the instructions, the use of ichthyol natural ointment is indicated for situations accompanied by inflammation, suppuration, abscesses and pain.
The analgesic effect occurs a couple of hours after applying the medicine. The active substance inhibits the breakdown of arachidonic acid. The latter is a powerful mediator of inflammation. The use of local medicine ends in dulling of the pain syndrome.
Abscesses in different parts of the body can be complicated by secondary infection. Ichthyol medicinal ointment, according to the instructions, has an antimycotic effect. Its use in the early stages of purulent diseases prevents the proliferation of dermatophytes. The drug destroys fungi in the wound area.
In medical practice, the use of ichthyol is reduced to stopping bacterial processes. Their types are indicated in the instructions for the drug. Due to the antimicrobial effect, the population of staphylococci and streptococci in the area of the abscess is reduced. Early use allows you to prevent serious complications of purulent skin diseases. Strict adherence to medical recommendations guarantees a quick recovery.
Ichthyol pharmaceutical ointment can be used at different stages of dermatological diseases. The instructions allow the use of sulfur at the first sign of an abscess. After applying the local drug, swelling goes away, the size of the inflammation decreases, pain and hyperemia disappear.
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The effectiveness and speed of the therapeutic effect of the drug depends on compliance with the instructions. You cannot increase the dose of ichthyol on your own. It may give an allergic reaction. The use of ointment in low therapeutic doses may result in a lack of results. To achieve the desired effect, you cannot do without medical advice.
How long to smear and how long to keep it on
Ichthyol ointment for chiria is used at any stage of maturation of the abscess. The drug is applied several times a day, kept under a bandage to stop the spread of the smell of ichthyol and keep clothes clean. A boil in any open area is susceptible to mechanical damage, which creates a risk of infection. In order to prevent drying and tightening of the skin, a sterile gauze bandage is needed.
Usually, 3-4 applications are enough for the suppuration to mature and break through (depending on the stage of the disease). To prevent scar formation, ichthyol ointment according to the instructions for boils must be applied before tightening the hole from the rod. The amount of product from one package will be enough for a single abscess.
Methods of using ichthyol ointment for purulent abscesses
The use of the product is based on compliance with several points of the instructions:
- The product is applied 2-3 times a day to the area of the abscess. Increasing the frequency of use may negatively affect the patient's condition.
- Ichthyol can be used to lubricate purulent abscesses or apply compresses.
- According to medical recommendations and pharmacy instructions, the application procedure must be carried out under sterile conditions. Before using ichthyol, you need to wash your hands and treat the damaged surface with antiseptics.
- During treatment, you cannot open the abscess yourself using improvised means. Due to Vaseline, ichthyol medicinal ointment penetrates well into the pathological focus. When applied, it does not damage the top layer of skin, which prevents infection.
- According to the instructions for compresses with ointment, use sterile cotton swabs and gauze bandages.
- It is necessary to comply with the terms of treatment. The product can be applied for 20-21 days. The first improvements occur a couple of days after using the drug.
According to the instructions, the ointment should be applied in a thin layer to the entire area of the abscess. Additionally, 1 cm is captured on each side of the formation.
Ichthyol is applied with light massage movements. Do not apply too much pressure to the area of the abscess.
Application in the form of a compress involves the use of bandages, cotton swabs, and gauze. Ichthyol is applied to the cotton wool in a generous layer. Then it lies on the area of the abscess. The top is fixed in a circular motion with bandages. The dressings must be changed every 10 hours according to the instructions. Experts recommend immediately applying a new portion after the drug has dried.
Under the influence of a deeply penetrating drug, a purulent head is formed in the center of the formation. Each new application of the product brings closer the maturation of the abscess and the release of pathological contents to the outside. Ichthyolka draws out pus within 4-5 days after the start of use. A week later, the abscess breaks through and a wound forms. The instructions recommend lubricating the resulting skin defect with hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine and other antiseptic solutions.
To treat abscesses, a drug of 20% consistency is used. Inflamed pimples, open and closed comedones can be treated with 10% medication.
Is it possible to use ichthyol ointment during pregnancy?
The natural decrease in the immunity of pregnant women can provoke the appearance of purulent inflammation. Expectant mothers often doubt whether ichthyol ointment is acceptable for multiple boils, and what its use is while waiting for the baby. Ichthyol is a topical drug, used externally, is not absorbed into the bloodstream, and is approved for use during pregnancy and lactation. It is not able to cross the placental barrier or be excreted into breast milk.
Treating furunculosis with ichthyol ointment in children of any age is not contraindicated. It is necessary to consult with a pediatrician and conduct an allergy test, for which the drug is applied to the inner surface of the elbow for 2-3 hours. If there is a burning sensation, swelling and other unpleasant sensations, the product should be replaced with another one on the recommendation of the attending physician. When treating children, care should be taken to securely fix the bandage; the child may remove it and taste the ichthyol or get it into the eyes, which will cause a burn and irritation of the mucous membrane.
Description of the drug
To get rid of purulent inflammations, it is safest and most effective to use ichthyol ointment. The main active component of liniment is ichthyol (obtained by processing shale resins). It draws pus from the boil, which contributes to its rapid breakthrough.
The element activates the intensity of blood flow in the problem area. Biochemical processes are catalyzed, and the boil heals faster. Antiseptic properties are enhanced by analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The medication eliminates skin itching and softens the keratinized layer of the epidermis.
pharmachologic effect
The features listed above are directly related to the pharmacological effect of the components of the drug on the areas of the skin where the boil is localized. The mechanism of biochemical processes is as follows:
- After application to the surface of the epidermis, the medication gently irritates the sensitive nerve endings, then the threshold of their sensitivity slowly decreases. Reflexes are formed that correct tissue trophism.
- Activates a change in the conformation of protein structures through their destabilization (i.e., protein molecules lose their natural properties while maintaining the amino acid sequence).
- Absorbed by the epithelium and mucous membranes, eliminates inflammation in the dermis, normalizes the tone of blood vessels and subcutaneous tissues.
Formation of a boil on the skin.
These reactions help reduce itching, pain, and relieve the inflammatory process. The skin at the top of the purulent core becomes soft, and after a short time purulent discharge is brought to the surface.
Release form and composition
On the territory of the Russian Federation, ichthyol ointment is produced in the form of liniment for external local application, as well as in the form of rectal suppositories. For boils, the use of ichthyol in the form of an ointment is indicated. It is a homogeneous dark brown medium-thick consistency with a pronounced odor.
The pharmaceutical drug is available in 2 versions:
- aluminum tubes in cardboard packs of 25 g;
- glass darkened jars (10% and 20%) of 25, 800 and 1800 g.
The main active ingredient is ichthyol or ichthammol, the auxiliary components are soft paraffin (yellow) and an emulsifier.
Contraindications for use
Despite its safety, you should not use ichthyol if you have allergic reactions. The drug is contraindicated for use in combination with other medicinal ointments, creams, gels or balms. They can enter into a chemical reaction and cause side effects, including chemical burns to the skin.
In the presence of:
- multiple suppurations;
- deterioration of general physical condition;
- the presence of a disease that suppresses the immune system.
Before using the ointment, you should visit a doctor to determine the cause of furunculosis and get rid of it. Ichthyol accelerates the healing of the boil, cures the abscess itself, but does not eliminate the disease that caused the immune system to fail. Therapy for a disease that has caused multiple boils helps to get rid of many other unpleasant consequences caused by disturbances in the functioning of the human immune system.
Correctly administered ointment therapy will help get rid of boils and acne quickly.
You can use the product as much as needed. There is no addiction, the beneficial properties do not disappear. The article has been verified by the editors
