Skin with imperfections causes a lot of trouble. Caring for it, as a rule, comes down to the use of expensive cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. However, you can fight acne and pimples with the help of available antiseptic drugs that give excellent results. Ichthyol ointment is considered one of these. Its correct use will cleanse your facial skin and give it a flawless appearance for a long time. How should ichthyol ointment be used for blackheads and does it have any contraindications? More on this below.
Composition and beneficial properties
You may be interested in: Sea bath salt for children: review, application features and beneficial properties
Ichthyol ointment contains 15-20% ichthyol. This is what causes the specific smell of the drug. The drug can solve many skin problems. Ichthyol ointment has the following beneficial properties:
- has an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect;
- activates epidermal restoration processes;
- helps improve skin immunity;
- improves nutrition and accelerates skin renewal at the cellular level;
- relieves comedones, pimples, boils.
You may be interested in: Ointments for blackheads on the face: list, instructions for use, reviews
What is the effectiveness of ichthyol ointment against blackheads? The appearance of comedones is accompanied by clogged pores. The latter phenomenon is often caused by increased production of sebum, the ingress of dead particles of the epidermis, and the development of bacteria. The product penetrates into the deep layers of the skin and dissolves comedones.
Ichthyol ointment contains petroleum jelly, which makes it quickly absorbed by the skin. The drug is presented in two forms, which differ in the content of active components: 10% (10 g of ichthyol and 90 g of petroleum jelly) and 20% (20 g of the main substance and 80 g of petroleum jelly).
What are the benefits of ichthyol for the face?
Ichthyol has a wide range of positive effects on the skin. The substance has the following therapeutic effects:
- Antiseptic.
- Anti-inflammatory.
- Keratoplasty.
But the positive effect on the skin is not limited to this - the ointment can increase blood flow in the affected area, activating trophic processes and metabolism. And thanks to its mild reflex action, it reduces the severity of pain.
How does it work for acne?
Taking into account the beneficial properties of ichthyol ointment, it has become widely used for infectious and inflammatory processes, in particular acne. The active component of the drug penetrates well through the epithelium, reaching the subcutaneous layers, which makes it possible to treat even deeply located acne.
Under the influence of ichthyol, death and inhibition of growth of bacterial flora involved in the development of acne (streptococci, propionobacteria) is observed. By suppressing infiltration and reducing redness, the drug first makes acne less noticeable, and soon eliminates it altogether, restoring damaged epithelium.
Ichthyol ointment is an affordable product of natural origin, part of the group of antiseptics.
Application
First, let's look at the general method of using ichthyol ointment for blackheads and other skin problems. It is advisable to apply the product in the evening or on weekends, because it has a pungent and rather persistent odor.
You may be interested in: Flaxseed oil for the body: methods of use, benefits, reviews
To enhance the effectiveness of using a medicine based on vaseline and ichthyol, you can steam your face. For a steam bath, it is recommended to use herbs with an anti-inflammatory effect: chamomile, calendula, sage, string. After the procedure, you need to pat your face dry with a clean towel and remove dirt from the surface of the dermis.
When the skin is cleansed, you can begin applying the ointment locally. Attention should be paid to areas on the face where there are inflammatory elements, acne, boils.
To apply ichthyol ointment for blackheads, you can use a cotton pad or swabs. You can leave the drug for several hours, then wash your face with warm water. After cleansing, apply a disinfectant to the skin. Salicylic acid, alcohol tincture of calendula, and Chlorhexidine are ideal for this. Already in the morning the number of blackheads will be significantly reduced. If the skin is problematic and there are a lot of comedones and pimples on it, the procedure will have to be carried out more than once.
Mask recipes
The drug with ichthyol can be used to create masks and other mixtures for purulent inflammation of the skin. It is recommended to use the products before bedtime.
Recipes for masks with ichthyol ointment for the face:
- From blackheads. It is necessary to take ointment with ichthyol and glycerin in equal proportions and mix in a container. A cotton pad or swab is moistened in the resulting mass. The product is applied to a previously cleansed face. Using a stick is convenient for treating small amounts of comedones. If there are a lot of them, then you can use a cotton pad and wipe entire areas with a scattering of blackheads. The mixture is washed off the face after 1.5-2 hours. Then the skin must be wiped with an antiseptic. If you wash your face with tar soap, then comedones will disappear faster.
- For subcutaneous acne. You should mix levomekol and ichthyol ointment 20% in equal proportions. The composition is applied to the inflamed areas and covered with gauze or adhesive tape. The product is kept on all night. In the morning, the remnants of the drug are washed off with water. If necessary, you can use regular soap.
- From ripening ulcers. Take 1 aspirin tablet and grind it in a mortar. Add a little ichthyol ointment 20% to the powder and mix the ingredients. The mixture is applied pointwise to ripening ulcers and left for 1-2 hours. The composition should be washed off with warm water combined with a mild detergent. After applying the mask, the skin is treated with an antiseptic.
- Against ripening acne. You need to take an aloe leaf and cut it in half. Use a spoon to separate the juicy pulp from the peel and mix it with a small amount of ichthyol-based ointment. The finished mass is applied to the inflammation and kept for 1-2 hours. This remedy can also be used for preventive purposes.
- From any inflammation. To create a mask, mix 2 g of ointment with ichthyol, 15 g of sulfur and zinc ointment, 20 g of salicylic ointment, 5-6 drops of vitamin A in oil and 7-8 drops of tea tree essential oil. The healing composition is used to treat the face or body after a shower. First, the mask is kept for 2-3 hours. If there is no irritation, then the product can be left overnight, covering the treated areas with a gauze bandage. Since the composition contains ointment with zinc, after the mask white stains remain on the face, which will be difficult to wash off the first time.
Masks containing ichthyol ointment are used for 6-7 days, and then take a break for 2 weeks and repeat the treatment. The mixture should not be washed off with lotions or toners containing alcohol. After using the product, you should not use whitening or moisturizing masks, as the skin needs to rest.
Folk remedies with ichthyol ointment
Ichthyol ointment for blackheads can be used not only in its pure form, but also as a component of face masks.
This mask is recommended for those with oily skin with enlarged pores. Has a drying and antibacterial effect. To prepare it you will need:
- aspirin (2 tablets);
- ointment.
Crushed aspirin should be mixed with ointment and applied to problem areas. The mask can be left on the face overnight. In the morning, your face should be washed with warm water and disinfected with an antiseptic.
A disinfectant drying mask against acne and pimples helps to cope with skin problems. Nourishes the skin with beneficial substances and tightens pores. The composition of the product should include fresh aloe leaves and ichthyol ointment. The pulp should be combined with a pharmaceutical preparation and the mixture should be applied to problem areas.
Ichthyol ointment for blackheads gives good results if used with blue or black clay. You can also add essential oils with an anti-inflammatory effect to the mask.
Eliminating blackheads
When the task is to get rid of acne, the product should be applied exclusively to the problem area (forehead, nose, cheeks, chin). If you ignore this recommendation, healthy areas will be overdried, which will force additional treatment.
As for the use of ichthyol ointment for blackheads on the nose, it should be applied in a thick layer and kept on the skin for 2-8 hours. The exact time depends on how advanced the problem is.
To remove the drug, you can use a damp cotton pad or baby wipes. If you cannot remove excess composition, you will have to wash your face with a special cleanser in the form of a gel or foam. After the procedure, you need to wipe the problem area with a tonic that contains salicylic acid.
Patient reviews
I have been using medicinal ointment based on ichthyol for several years. The pharmaceutical product costs only 30−35 rubles. I regret that in the past I spent a lot of money on cosmetic procedures to cleanse my facial skin. This ointment quickly eliminates pimples and blackheads. It usually takes 5-6 days for your face to become clean again. Sometimes I get a small rash around the treated area, but the spots go away within two to three days. It is necessary to ensure that the product does not get on clothes, since it does not wash well.
Olga
The first acne appeared at the age of 15. I saved myself from minor inflammations with tonics and lotions. One day I developed a boil on my cheek, which greatly spoiled my appearance. The tonic didn’t help here, so I started looking on the Internet for remedies against such inflammation. Some people have responded well to ichthyol ointment. I purchased the drug at the nearest pharmacy. The ointment is sold in tubes. It has a very pungent smell, so I applied it to the boil before bed to wash it off in the morning and get rid of the unpleasant aroma. The boil opened within a few days. Now I always treat boils in the early stages with this drug.
Christina
Since adolescence, I have been plagued by acne on my face.
At first I tried to cure inflammation with the help of cosmetics, but they turned out to be ineffective. Then I went to the pharmacy, where they suggested using an ichthyol-based ointment. The product cost only 40 rubles, so I decided to take a risk. The smell of the ointment is not very pleasant, but it had the desired effect. After just two uses, it was noticeable how the growths began to decrease in size. On the fifth day, barely noticeable spots remained from the acne, which soon disappeared on their own. Since then I have only used this ointment. Natalia
Ichthyol ointment for acne
The appearance of acne on the skin can be due to various reasons. You can eliminate inflamed areas on the face by using ichthyol ointment. The product must be used taking into account the following recommendations:
- To eliminate acne, the ointment must be applied pointwise.
- If the pimples are small, a fixing bandage must be applied over the drug.
- Ichthyol ointment should be applied to large inflammatory elements and a patch should be applied to them. It is recommended to do such compresses at night. In the morning, the remaining ointment should be washed off with water and a moisturizer should be applied to the skin.
The product draws out pus and promotes healing. If the pus goes under the skin, the procedure must be repeated. This time you will have to apply a gauze bandage to the problem area. After removing the compress, the skin should be treated with Chlorhexidine.
Ichthyol ointment: contraindications
Ichthyol-based ointment has a number of contraindications that must be taken into account. You should refrain from compresses in case of individual intolerance to the drug. To prevent side effects from occurring, after using ichthyol ointment for acne and pimples, you need to test it first. You need to apply a little product to the crook of your elbow or wrist and observe the reaction. If there is no redness or itching on the skin, the ointment can be safely used to combat skin imperfections.
Reviews of ichthyol ointment against blackheads and pimples mention that allergies can manifest themselves after prolonged use of the drug. In this case, all procedures with his participation will have to be stopped or a break should be taken between courses.
It is prohibited to use the drug in the following cases:
Persons under 12 years of age should refrain from using ichthyol ointment for acne. It is unacceptable to apply ointment simultaneously with other remedies for acne and acne.
Ichthyol ointment is intended for external use only. It is unacceptable for the composition to get inside. If for some reason this happens, you need to immediately rinse your stomach and take the sorbent.
Instructions for using ointment
Any type of skin pathology has its own treatment characteristics. They must be followed to achieve positive results.
Before purchasing the product, it is recommended to consult a doctor who will determine the type and severity of the disease and prescribe the correct dosage in accordance with the instructions for use of ichthyol ointment:
- For acne. Pre-cleanse the skin with tonic or micellar water. Then you need to steam it with a bath or hot shower. The remedy is applied in a targeted manner to areas with inflammation. The treated areas are sealed with adhesive tape and left for 5-6 hours. Then the compress is replaced with a new one, washing off the remaining ointment with warm water. The procedures must be carried out until the acne completely disappears.
- From boils. Growths that arise in the form of inflammation or suppuration of the hair follicle must be treated with an antiseptic to prevent the spread of microbes to healthy areas of the skin. A little ointment is applied to each formation, on top of which a cotton pad or adhesive bandage is secured. The compress should be changed every 2 hours. After opening the boil, treatment is stopped.
- For subcutaneous acne. Painful inflammations are difficult to treat, but ichthyol-based medicine is effective in combating such defects. First, the skin is cleansed with an antibacterial agent. Apply a small amount of ointment to a cotton pad and press firmly onto the acne area, securing it with a band-aid. The compress is applied at night. The procedures are repeated until the contents of the growth come out. After this, the wound is again treated with an antibacterial agent.
- From blackheads. Such defects arise due to impaired functioning of the sebaceous glands. Areas with clogged pores are cleaned with an antibacterial substance. Apply a layer of ointment with ichthyol to the affected areas and leave the product for 2-3 hours. Then the drug is washed off with warm water and treated again with an antibacterial substance. Usually the course of treatment is 6-7 days.
Small spots and scars remaining after inflammation can also be removed using a product with ichthyol. After cleaning the skin, the ointment is applied to the required areas in a targeted manner and covered with a band-aid. The duration of treatment depends on the depth and severity of the spots. After removing the compress, they should be treated with tincture of string or chamomile decoction.
If after the first use of the product there is no irritation or itching on the skin, then the drug is used to treat inflammation twice a day. The procedure can be done every other day. This will not reduce the effectiveness of the product.
During treatment with ichthyol, you should not use cosmetics. The drug must be applied strictly to the affected areas, avoiding healthy skin, otherwise you may get burned.
Tips for using ichthyol for acne and acne
If a drug based on ichthyol is chosen to combat acne and pimples, you must adhere to certain rules. Applying the composition to light skin may cause pigmentation. To eliminate this phenomenon, the ointment should be used every other day.
While completing the course, you should not apply cosmetic masks to your skin, otherwise this may cause severe burning and itching.
If the skin is too oily, you need to be extremely careful with ichthyol. The ointment contains petroleum jelly, which can make the skin more oily and lead to clogged pores.
Description and composition
The product with ichthyol is used for various skin problems. A cheap and effective drug is often used in the fight against acne and pustular inflammation. The medication reduces pain, relieves inflammation and swelling. The medicine has an antiseptic effect against pathogenic bacteria. After using the ointment, blood flow and tone of blood vessels improves.
Composition of the medicinal product:
- The active substance is ichthyol (ichthammol). The component is an extract from processed resinous rocks. Ichthyol is characterized by an anti-inflammatory effect and leads to the death of pathogenic microorganisms.
- The auxiliary component is Vaseline. An additional substance in the ointment moisturizes and protects the epidermis from the influence of external factors.
The main component of the drug is contained in a volume of 10−20%. Ointment with ichthyol against acne is characterized by a viscous brown consistency. The product has an unpleasant and pungent odor.
The medicine is available in several types of packaging:
- dark glass jars with a volume of 10% ointment in 25 g;
- aluminum tubes of 25 g;
- plastic jars with a volume of 800 g with 20% of the active ingredient in the composition.
More often, people purchase ointment in aluminum tubes. This packaging is convenient to use because it allows you to carefully apply the medicine to the affected areas.
The cost of the medicine varies between 20−50 rubles. The medication is available in pharmacies without a prescription. The ointment should be stored in a dry and dark place at a temperature no higher than +14 degrees. Children or pets should not have access to it. The shelf life of the drug is 3 years. After this period, the medication cannot be used.
If the product is not available at your nearest pharmacy, you can order it online or choose another drug with a similar mechanism of action. The medicine can be replaced with Vishnevsky ointment, Karboderm, Ilon, Fukortsin or Sangviritrin.
