Salicylic ointment for acne: instructions for use

Salicylic ointment for acne on the face

The main effect of this medicine is the ability to soften the upper layer of the epidermis and fight plugs that clog the sebaceous glands. This helps treat existing acne, but is also one of the best prevention methods.

Today in the pharmacy you can find options of different dosages. These are 2%, 3%, 5% and 10% ointment, the composition of which is minimally simple - petroleum jelly and salicylic acid.

Salicylic acne ointment has a variety of positive effects on the area where you apply this drug. First of all , it reduces the inflammatory process and dries out pimples.

Secondly, it has a unique ability to regenerate, that is, after a full course of treatment, there will be no marks, scars or spots left on the skin, which is typical for those who constantly squeeze out pimples with their hands.

Thirdly, if used correctly, the effect will be visible almost the next day, and the total duration of acne treatment will be only a few days.

And finally, this medicine is sold in all pharmacies, and most importantly, its price is affordable for everyone.

The ointment should be used simultaneously with moisturizing cosmetics, as it dries the skin quite strongly, which can cause peeling and other unpleasant symptoms.

Few people know, but salicylic acid is part of such drugs as:

Camphocin (for arthritis).
Viprosal (pain reliever and anti-inflammatory)
Zincundan (skin fungus)
Lorinden A (skin lesions of various origins, contraindicated for acne).
Lassara paste (used in the treatment of acne).
Teymur paste (used in the treatment of acne).

Some of you may have heard that the acne drug Lorinden C is great for treating inflammation. But that's not true. This medicine is not used in the treatment of acne.

But before you start using this or that drug, you should definitely consult a doctor, as they have some contraindications that you should remember.

Composition and release forms

Salicylic ointment is a medicine in the form of a thick, homogeneous paste of light yellow or white color.

The composition of the drug includes:

Salicylic acid is the main active ingredient;
Purified Vaseline is an additional component.

Depending on the amount of salicylic acid contained, 1%, 2%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 40% or 60% ointment are distinguished.

It is mainly produced in dark glass jars of 25 and 40 g or in aluminum containers from 10 to 50 g. There are also sixty percent salicylic pencils.

The product is available for sale both in pure form and with the addition of zinc or sulfur excipients.

There are many pharmaceutical and cosmetic products against acne and acne, but not all of them are able to cope with skin problems. Salicylic ointment effectively fights various purulent formations. It has an anti-inflammatory and disinfecting effect.

dark glass jars with a volume of 25 and 40 g;
aluminum tubes with a volume from 10 to 50 g.

The medicine is available in pharmacies without a prescription. The cost of the drug varies between 25-30 rubles. The shelf life is 2 years. After this time, the ointment should not be used. The product must be stored in a dark place at a temperature of 5 to 20 degrees. The ointment should not be kept in the refrigerator.

There are several analogues of this anti-acne drug. Salicylic ointment is sometimes replaced with Duofilm, Kerasal, Collomak or Nemozol. Since products may contain various substances, it is necessary to carefully study the instructions for them to avoid negative health effects.

Salicylic-zinc ointment for acne

Salicylic-zinc ointment is one of the options for using salicylic acid in the treatment of acne. It is considered especially effective as it relieves inflammation and dries out pimples. It is recommended for use in the treatment of acne on the back, buttocks, neck, chest and shoulders, that is, where they appear most often and can be large in size and quite painful.

This medicine is based on 2% salicylic ointment, which is thoroughly mixed with zinc ointment in the same amount.

Salicylic-zinc acne ointment has some features in its use. In the first week of treatment, it is recommended to apply the drug every day, preferably in the evenings before bedtime. Then only two or three times a week.

It should be remembered that the drug must be applied pointwise, that is, only on the pimple itself, and in no case should it affect healthy skin. If you experience a feeling of dryness or tightness, then after applying the ointment you should definitely moisturize your skin with the cosmetic preparations that you usually use.

One of the complications when using is an allergic reaction. If you use this medication incorrectly and apply it too often, you may experience symptoms of overdose. They include:

Dizziness.
Hearing loss.
Noise in ears.
Increased sweating.

In severe cases of overdose, convulsions, hemorrhagic diathesis, as well as significant disturbances in the functioning of the lungs, kidneys and liver may occur. This treatment is strictly contraindicated for children under 12 years of age.

What is better for acne - zinc or salicylic ointment? If there are not many acne, then it is better to use only salicylic acid. But if pimples literally cover your entire face and they constantly open up, leaving behind wounds, then it is better to use an ointment that contains zinc.

How to use it correctly?

Do not apply:

for very young children (up to 2-3 years, the concentration should not exceed 2%)
persons with renal failure
in case of allergies
women expecting a child (saturation of a pregnant woman’s body with salicylates is undesirable).

Salicylic ointment is used exclusively for external use. To treat various skin diseases, the drug of the required concentration is used.

Before applying the drug to the affected area of the epidermis, it is necessary to check for an allergic reaction to the active substance. To do this, apply a small amount of ointment to a healthy area of skin and watch the reaction.

Salicylic ointment helps fight the symptoms of acne, but does not affect the cause of their formation. To completely get rid of acne, you need to see a doctor.

To treat acne, use a weakly concentrated 2% salicylic ointment, less often 1%. For the most delicate skin, the drug is mixed with Vaseline in a ratio of up to 1:4.

Before use, you need to prepare your skin:

Wash the affected area thoroughly;
Dry with a towel or napkin;
If there are open wounds or purulent processes, they are treated with hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine.

Use of the medication:

Apply to the damaged area or apply directly to each pimple.
In case of severe pain when touched, the product is applied to a sterile bandage, which is applied for 10-15 minutes.
Apply to the damaged area 2-3 times a day, depending on the number of rashes.

The duration of use of the product is 1-3 weeks. Salicylic acid, which is part of the drug, in addition to its therapeutic effect, lightens acne marks.

It is important to remember that the medicine dries out the skin greatly.

Salicylic ointment is the most necessary remedy for the treatment of psoriasis. For this disease, a product containing 2% salicylic acid is used.

To achieve maximum effect from the ointment, before use you need to:

Cleanse your skin and protect yourself from germs;
Soften the skin pores for better absorption of salicylic ointment;
Heat improves blood circulation and accordingly increases the flow of oxygen to the epidermal tissues.

The maximum effect of salicylic ointment can be achieved if you apply it after a bath or hot bath.

You should use salicylic ointment for psoriasis:

Before going to bed at home, apply to previously prepared skin.
Considering that the ointment is very greasy, it is necessary to prepare special pajamas and bed linen in advance, which you will not mind.
If bleeding cracks have formed on the skin affected by psoriasis, the drug is mixed with Vaseline before use.
Apply the medicine to problem areas no more than 3 times a day.

The course of daily treatment lasts from 6 to 20 days. Afterwards a mandatory break is required.

Salicylic ointment is an excellent remedy for warts; for this, 40% or 60% of the drug is used. During treatment, certain rules should be followed.

The place where the wart is located is necessary:

Steam in warm baths;
Clear as much dead skin as possible;
Dry thoroughly.

Salicylic ointment is left on the damaged area of skin for a period of 12 to 48 hours. Only keeping the medicine on the wart for a long time can bring a positive effect.

Using ointment for warts:

The drug, lightly rubbing, is applied directly to the affected area, trying not to get on healthy skin; sometimes for this, a greasy cream is applied around the location of the pathology;
Afterwards, the surface is covered with gauze and a bandage is applied.

At the end of the procedure:

Remove the bandage;
Wash the problematic and adjacent areas of the epidermis thoroughly with soap;
Dead cells are cleaned off.

If the wart does not disappear after one procedure, the next one is performed. The course of treatment lasts up to 3 weeks; further use of drugs based on salicylic acid is possible only after a break.

Throughout the therapy, the condition of the skin is monitored. Is there any redness, burning, itching or any other allergic reactions? If the slightest irritation appears, it is necessary to take a break from treatment.

To combat papillomas, as well as to combat warts, the most concentrated salicylic ointment is used. It is possible to achieve a positive effect from the use of drugs with a low content of the active substance only after a long period of time.

The problem area is pre-prepared:

Cleanses the skin;
Dry well;
A thick cream is applied around the papilloma.

Application of salicylic ointment for papillomas:

A small amount of the drug is applied to the prepared area of skin and the area is covered with a band-aid for 12 hours.
Or soak a cotton pad or gauze pad with the composition and apply it to the affected area of the epidermis and secure it with a bandage. Change 2-3 times a day.
After the procedure, you need to thoroughly wash the skin with warm water and soap.

The course of treatment is 21 days; if the papilloma has not disappeared during this period, you need to take a break for 3-4 days and continue therapy.

Depending on the type of callus, salicylic ointment of varying concentrations is used.

Sulfur-salicylic ointment for acne

In addition to petroleum jelly and salicylic acid, this ointment also contains sulfur. The drug is quite popular in the treatment of a variety of skin diseases, including acne. Sold in two versions - 2% and 5% ointment.

The peculiarity of this drug is that it not only treats acne, but also helps get rid of acne scars.

This medicine should be applied only to the site of inflammation once or twice a day. The duration of treatment depends on the degree of inflammation, therefore it is determined individually in each case for each patient.

During pregnancy, the ointment can be considered a conditionally safe medicine, but only a doctor should prescribe it for the treatment of acne on the body.

How do medications based on salicylic acid work?

Salicylic ointment helps with acne for several reasons. For example, sulfur , when interacting with organic impurities that are located in the pores of the skin, is divided into sulfides and pantothenic acid , which actively destroys all microbes and bacteria.

Sulfides , in turn, have a keratoplastic effect, that is, they restore the outer layer of the skin. They are also credited with a keratolytic effect, that is, the top layer of skin cells softens and dissolves. This or that action will be directly related to the concentration of the active substance in the ointment.

Salicylic acid helps fight inflammation, constricts blood vessels, and reduces itching and inflammation.

Zinc is necessary to provide a drying effect.

Instructions for use

The method of using the drug depends on the types of acne. For oily skin, the product can be used daily, and for normal and dry skin - after 1-2 days. To treat inflammatory rashes, use an ointment with a 1-2% concentration of the active substance.

Hands should be washed with soap and treated with alcohol.
The product is applied to the rash using a spot method. The drug cannot be rubbed in.
For inflammation that causes pain, a piece of sterile bandage is lubricated with ointment and applied to the affected area of the skin for 10-15 minutes.
If the treatment is done at night, then you need to apply a compress. After applying the ointment, areas with pimples are covered with a gauze bandage and secured with adhesive tape so as not to stain the pillow. The compress is removed in the morning.

The same actions are necessary when removing post-acne. After the procedure, the skin can be moisturized with lotion or nourishing cream.

Do not apply the product in a continuous layer to large areas of the affected area. Treatments are carried out 2-3 times a day for 1-3 weeks. For sensitive skin, the ointment is mixed with Vaseline in a ratio of 1:4.

Using salicylic ointment for acne during pregnancy

Salicylic acid ointment for acne can be used during pregnancy, but the daily dose of this substance should not exceed 5 milligrams.

The same conditions should be followed when treating acne, acne and the effects of acne during breastfeeding. In this case, the ointment only acts locally, that is, it practically does not penetrate into the blood, which means it does not have a pronounced effect on the entire body.

However, most dermatologists and obstetricians-gynecologists do not recommend that women take these medications to treat acne during pregnancy. Therefore, be sure to consult your doctor.

Patient reviews

Since I was a teenager, acne began to appear on my face. I am always embarrassed to appear in front of people without makeup, which slightly hides the ulcers. I tried to get rid of them with gels, lotions and masks, but nothing helped.

I searched the Internet for remedies to combat skin rashes. On one forum on this topic, a girl asked whether Salicylic ointment really helps with acne. Many reviews about this drug were positive, so I decided to try it too. It was possible to remove the ulcers in just a week, and the effect itself becomes noticeable on the third day of using the medicine.

Ksenia

I rarely suffer from acne, and rashes can always be removed with the help of special lotions. But a year ago, acne appeared on my back, which caused pain. Cosmetic products did not help, so I decided to see a dermatologist. The doctor prescribed an ointment with salicylic acid. The product had to be applied pointwise and then secured with a bandage and plaster. During treatment, mild irritation occurred, but it went away 2-3 hours after treatment. And the acne disappeared after two weeks. The product is effective, now I use it against all types of acne.

Alexandra

Last summer I vacationed at the seaside. On the second day after the beach, I returned to the hotel and noticed several large pimples on my back. By evening they began to hurt. I went to the pharmacy, where they advised me to use Salicylic ointment. The drug cost only 28 rubles, so I doubted that such a cheap product would help. Still, I decided to try it. I had to avoid the sun for two days, but after compresses with ointment, the acne began to hurt less, and 4 days after starting to use the drug, it completely disappeared. No more rashes marred my rest.

Natalia

Contraindications and side effects

Salicylic ointment for acne is contraindicated in case of kidney disease or hypersensitivity to this medicine.

Do not smear moles, warts, or pimples in the groin area.

It is not recommended to use ointments to treat children. If this is necessary, then consultation with a pediatrician is required.

If you are using this medicine for the first time, you should start with the minimum concentration - that is, with the 2% option. It is better to completely abandon other too concentrated options.

The main local adverse reactions will be:

Redness.
Irritation.
Itching.
Burning.

Salicylic ointment for acne. Instructions for use

How you use salicylic ointment for acne will depend on your skin type. So, for example, with dry and normal skin, the ointment should be used every day. For oily skin, you can combine it with other substances in the form of masks.

It should be remembered that Vaseline, which is used as the basis for these ointments, can provoke new inflammatory processes.

In order for masks with salicylic acid to have the desired effect, they must be prepared correctly. And under no circumstances should you increase the amount of active substances.

Mask for combination skin

Mix 2 tablespoons of clay, preferably green, with water. And bring to the consistency of sour cream. Add a small spoon of ointment to it and mix. Apply to face and rinse with water after 15 minutes. Afterwards, be sure to moisturize with cream.

Mask for oily skin

Salicylic ointment for acne spots can also be used in this combination - mix a large spoon of black clay, mix a large spoon of pink clay, dilute until thick with sour cream. Add a small spoon of ointment, apply to face, leave for 20 minutes, wash and moisturize face.

If you use spot application, then do it carefully and only on the pimples themselves. It is best to carry out the procedure at night, covering the application site with a bandage.

pharmachologic effect

has a drying effect, which is important for oily skin types;
stimulates local blood circulation;
restores the functioning of the sebaceous glands and softens fat plugs;
has a regenerating effect on the skin;
can whiten the skin, clearing it of age spots.

Inflammatory processes are stopped due to the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms, after which inflammation disappears. The medicinal drug also reduces the risk of new acne and other skin defects.

Use with other medications

You should use salicylic ointment for acne on the face and other parts of the body without using other drugs. This is due to the fact that salicylic acid increases the permeability of the skin to other medications. And this can cause an overdose. This may increase the side effects of both medications.

Many people ask - what is better, salicylic ointment or a solution of salicylic acid? It is impossible to get a definite answer here. For initial use, it is better to choose ointment. Leave the solution for emergencies.

Attention! To make the text easier for our readers to understand, the instructions for the drug “Salicylic Acid” were presented in a simple and accessible form. Before starting treatment, we still recommend that you read the original instructions that come with the ointment.

Author - Anna Mikhailova, dermatologist-cosmetologist of the first category, specialist at the Academy of Scientific Beauty. Especially for the site “Treating Acne”.

Description of the drug

Salicylic ointment is an effective pharmaceutical remedy for the treatment of warts, acne, calluses and pimples. The drug has become widespread in dermatology due to its pronounced anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. The presence of petroleum jelly helps soften and improve absorption. But for patients with oily skin, salicylic-zinc ointment for acne is considered more suitable.

The effect of the cream in question:

Quickly eliminates inflammatory processes in the skin.
Activates keratolytic reactions, which promotes intensive exfoliation of the keratinized layer of the epithelium.
It launches regeneration processes, due to which damaged areas of the body quickly heal and are restored.

There is an opinion that the ointment effectively eliminates pimples and acne. In most cases, this is true, but there are certain subtleties of using the medication that I would like to dwell on in more detail.

Clinical and pharmacological group

Ointment with salicylic acid belongs to the group of antiseptics and disinfectants for external use. It is characterized by a pronounced keratolytic and wound-healing effect (dermatotropic drug according to the ATX classification). Used only externally, locally.

pharmachologic effect

The pharmacological effect of the drug is determined by the properties of the main active ingredient - salicylic acid. Its peculiarity lies in its targeted effect on the affected areas of the skin, as well as accompanying biochemical processes.

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What effect should you expect when using salicylic ointment for the face?

Suppresses the vital activity of pathogenic microflora, due to which acne and pustules disappear in 2-4 days.
Eliminates inflammatory processes occurring in the tissues of problem areas.
The acid helps soften the structure of sebaceous plugs in the pores, quickly eliminate them, and lightens scars.
The active substances break down the remnants of the epithelium, which eliminates the possibility of the formation of sebaceous plugs and accompanying inflammatory processes.
The epithelial layer of the skin actively regenerates.

A therapeutic course of a couple of weeks is enough to eliminate pimples, acne, and renew the skin.

Composition and release form

Salicylic ointment against acne is sold in aluminum tubes of 10-50 g, as well as in small darkened glass jars of 25 and 40 g. Liniment has a white-gray tint and is a thick and viscous substance. In cosmetology, compositions with 2, 3 and 5% content of the same acid are widely used.

In some pharmacies, 10 and 35% ointments are available to order. They are extremely rare in the open market. Their main area of application is the treatment of skin pathologies in a dispensary.

The composition of the medication consists of two predominant components:

purified petroleum jelly or medical paraffin (0.65 – 0.98 mg/1 g) – the ingredients are used as a softening liniment base;
salicylic acid is the main active element (0.35 – 0.02 mg).

The medication is often combined with sulfur and zinc. Thanks to this interaction of components, it is possible to significantly expand the spectrum of action of the drug.