Salicylic ointment is a medical preparation with salicylic acid, which is used to treat various types of benign epidermal neoplasms, be it papillomas, warts, condylomas, spines, keratomas, acrochords.
Description and composition of salicylic ointment
Salicylic ointment is a fairly effective drug designed to fight tumors caused by human papillomavirus. This is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is used only externally.
To remove papillomas and warts, salicylic acid is most often used, which is the main component of the ointment. In solution form it has a stronger effect on the skin. However, it hurts her even more. The ointment, in turn, demonstrates the same healing effect, but does so in a more gentle way. For this reason the treatment takes a longer period of time.
Salicylic ointment fights the following types of skin cancers:
- warts;
- keratomas;
- thorns;
- warts;
- filamentous papillomas.
In addition, the product is prescribed for a variety of dermatological problems, as it has a bactericidal and wound-healing effect.
The composition of salicylic ointment includes the following components:
- Salicylic acid. The substance consists of colorless crystals that are highly soluble in ethanol, diethyl ether and other organic solvents. It has poor solubility in water.
- Petrolatum. A pasty, odorless and tasteless liquid. If subjected to complete purification it becomes translucent; the use of partial purification gives the substance a black to pale yellow color. Insoluble in water and alcohol, but soluble in ether and chloroform. It is not subject to saponification with alkaline solution, oxidation or rancidity in air. It serves as the basis for many ointments, including salicylic ointment against papillomas.
The concentration of salicylic acid in 100 g of ointment varies from 2 to 60 g, depending on the percentage of the drug. The concentration of petroleum jelly is from 98 to 40 g per 100 g of the drug, also depending on the acid content.
Packaged in glass or plastic containers, closed with plastic lids. The most common dosage is 2% or 3% and the volume is 25 g, but 1%, 5%, 10% and 60% ointments with a volume of up to 100 g are also on sale.
Analogues of salicylic ointment are not direct analogues, but drugs with similar effects on the epidermis.
The benefits of salicylic ointment for papillomas
The drug has a very active effect on the epidermis. Kills HPV, concentrated in the mutated cells of the neoplasm, helps to suppress the secretion of sebum and sweat, reducing the likelihood of further tissue infections by pathogens, helps to exfoliate dead cells and restore the integrity of the skin.
Salicylic ointment for papillomas has the following effects:
- Keratolytic. The drug helps to soften, dissolve and exfoliate keratinized epidermis.
- Antiseptic. Since the acid contained in the ointment makes the structure of the neoplasm open, it is necessary to disinfect the treated area. The antiseptic effect manifests itself in a harmful effect on most microorganisms.
- Local irritant. The effect on the epidermis is the ability to irritate the nerve endings of the skin due to the expansion of blood vessels. This improves tissue trophism and allows the drug to penetrate into the deep layers of the tumor. It also suppresses painful impulses resulting from cauterization of growth.
- Anti-inflammatory. The wound heals and the cause of the tumor, the human papilloma virus, is fought. This allows you to avoid irritation, suppurations, swelling and other complications that can occur when the skin is damaged.
- Regenerating. Since salicylic acid improves blood circulation at the application site, this promotes the rapid restoration of healthy cells and their replacement with exfoliated keratinized particles.
Salicylic ointment is used not only for the treatment of papillomas, but successfully fights boils, acne, helps soften callous growths and eliminates any inflammation of the skin.
Instructions for use of salicylic ointment for papillomas
To treat papillomas and vulgar warts it is best to use a 5% ointment; to combat more serious keratinized growths, such as spines, an ointment higher than 10% is suitable.
Some sources claim that to achieve a stronger effect, it is worth using salicylic ointment with a concentration of the active ingredient of 60%. However, doing it yourself is highly discouraged. This product is very aggressive and can cause serious damage to healthy skin.
To protect yourself from unwanted side effects, be sure to read the instructions for use of salicylic ointment for papillomas.
Algorithm for using the product against thorns:
- It is preferable to carry out the treatment before going to bed, so that the treated area is not exposed to mechanical stress during the day.
- Steam the new growth in warm, almost hot water. Rub with a pumice stone and cut off as many dead cells as possible with nail scissors.
- Before removing papillomas with salicylic ointment, it is not necessary to additionally treat the skin around the tumor with protective agents, but it is necessary to avoid excessive contact of the drug with healthy skin.
- Apply a thin layer of ointment to the new growth.
- Cover the treated area with an adhesive plaster or a bandage made of several layers of bandage.
- In the morning, wash the treated area and scrape away the dead cells overnight with a pumice stone. Do it carefully, without strong physical pressure.
- If the growth has not disappeared completely, repeat the evening treatments until the tumor is completely removed.
Using salicylic ointment to remove vulgar warts and papillomas:
- Wash the area to be treated with warm water and soap. Dry the new growth with a terry towel.
- Treat the skin around the tumor with a protective ointment, such as zinc, petroleum jelly or any baby cream.
- According to the instructions for salicylic ointment, papillomas are carefully treated with a thin layer.
- Cover the area to be treated with tape or apply a sterile bandage over it.
- After 12 hours, remove the compress, wait 10-12 hours and re-treat if necessary.
The period of use of salicylic ointment in the treatment of papillomas should not exceed 21 days. If there is no effect, take a break for a few days and repeat the course.
Contraindications and side effects of salicylic ointment
Since the drug can enter the bloodstream and affect nerve endings, there are very severe contraindications for the use of this drug.
Salicylic ointment should not be used by the following people:
- Pregnant and breastfeeding. The ban is associated with the possibility of the drug affecting the fetus, as well as its penetration into breast milk and the impact on the baby during breastfeeding.
- For allergy sufferers. This product is quite aggressive. Therefore, people prone to allergic skin reactions should avoid using it.
- For patients with diabetes. Because the drug can enter the blood, it can affect blood sugar levels, which can negatively affect the health of people with diabetes.
- People with kidney failure. The drug may have an effect on the urinary system of the body. Therefore, it is better for people suffering from diseases of this system to resort to the use of less aggressive means.
- Patients with circulatory diseases. Due to possible penetration into the blood, salicylic ointment for papillomas can affect the blood count.
- Children under 12 years old. The penetration of the acid into the blood and the fact that children's skin is more prone to irritation and allergic reactions than adults can also play a role in this case.
It is also worth noting that the use of this drug has the same restrictions that apply to all medical products aimed at combating benign neoplasms. First of all, you need to make sure that this formation is benign. Furthermore, in order to be used at home, the growth must be low oncogenicity.
It is not possible to treat papillomas on the mucous membranes, near the eyes or in areas of active hair. But you can use salicylic ointment for papillomas in intimate places. But it is better to use a product with a low acid concentration, taking into account the characteristics of this area.
Usually, the use of the ointment does not lead to serious side effects. But failure to comply with safety rules and the use of a product with a high concentration of acid (for example, 60%) can have a harmful effect on the epidermis.
Possible side effects of salicylic ointment:
- Burning up. Using the product may cause a burning sensation and mild pain. As a rule, this effect disappears within a few minutes of applying the solution. It does not require additional therapy.
- Chemical burn. Possible due to contact of a large amount of the drug on the healthy epidermis around the neoplasm. In this case it is necessary to rinse the treated area with plenty of warm water for 10-15 minutes and contact a surgeon.
- Tissue scars. This happens due to failure to comply with the rules for using this drug. With a deep chemical burn, when a large area is injured, the tissue begins to scar as it heals. In this case it is necessary to use special absorbable creams or surgical correction of the defect.
Results of the use of salicylic ointment for papillomas
The effectiveness of salicylic ointment in the treatment of papillomas is quite high. Furthermore, the higher the concentration of salicylic acid in the product, the greater the effectiveness. However, it is directly proportional to the appearance of side effects.
To remove a small papilloma with a product at a concentration of 60%, 1-3 treatments will be necessary. The thorn will disappear in 5-7 treatments.
When using an ointment with a concentration of 5-10%, it will take about a week to fight a small wart. Spinal removal may take a 21-day cycle. An old, large, dry callus may require several courses of 3 weeks each.
Real reviews of salicylic ointment for papillomas
Salicylic ointment has received many reviews, as it is a popular medical product. However, most of the answers concern the treatment of dermatological disorders not associated with the manifestations of the human papillomavirus, but concern the fight against acne, psoriasis and seborrhea. However, there are also those that specifically concern the fight against papillomas.
- "I needed to remove a papilloma on my foot. I started using patches. Unfortunately, this treatment had no effect. So, after reading reviews about salicylic ointment for papillomas, I decided to try it. I will not hide the fact that I was also fascinated by the low price of this drug. The first 3 days of use there was absolutely no effect. I even decided to give up treatment, but a friend advised me to continue. As a result, it took 2 months to remove the spine. I did not have any unpleasant sensations during the treatments and the effect, although slow, was there. So I decided to continue until I saw my wart disappear. I am satisfied with the effect, I recommend the product. "
- "We decided to purchase salicylic ointment to remove vulgar warts from the hands of a 14-year-old boy. The treatment was very simple and did not cause discomfort to the child: he did not feel pain, burning or itching. It is very difficult to convince a teenager to undergo treatment, and in this case it was possible to do it only because the application took very little time and was not accompanied by pain. In the evening, before going to bed, my son washed the warts with soap, after which applied a thin layer of ointment. The neoplasm was covered with an ordinary disposable bactericidal plaster. In the morning he took it off and went to school. In the evening the procedure was repeated. After 5 days, the warts softened, then they they dried slightly and fell off. There was a barely noticeable mark on my fingers, which disappeared over the next week. Inspired by the child's experience, I decided to remove the papillomas from the neck. I consider this remedy unsuitable for this area as, unlike the hands, the skin of the neck is delicate and there was a very strong burning and painful sensation. The effect was good, but I think it is better to use a more delicate product. "
- "After pregnancy, new growths appeared on my body. And papillomas, warts, keratomas, spines, just a lot of problems caused by the human papillomavirus. After breastfeeding, before returning to work after maternity leave, I decided to get better in order. I started with a splint on my foot, because it was not only ugly, but also made it difficult to walk. It took me a month to cure it with salicylic ointment for papillomas. Other tumors disappeared within 2 weeks. But unlike the treatment of the foot, there was discomfort: it was quite hot and itchy. Luckily no traces remained. "
Salicylic ointment has proven to be a remedy for benign tumors caused by HPV. The undeniable advantages include the fact that applications can be done at home, the product is convenient, and salicylic ointment is available in pharmacies without a prescription. If the instructions are followed scrupulously, its use is safe and painless. The disadvantages of this drug include the fact that its use is quite long.