Salicylic ointment is a medicinal product containing salicylic acid, which is used to treat various types of benign epidermal tumors, be it papillomas, warts, condylomas, spines, keratomas, acrochords.
Description and composition of salicylic acid ointment
Salicylic ointment is a fairly effective drug designed to combat tumors caused by the human papillomavirus. It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is only used externally.
Salicylic acid, which is the main component of the ointment, is most often used to remove papillomas and warts. In solution, it has a stronger effect on the skin. However, it also hurts him more. The ointment, on the other hand, has the same healing effect, but more gently. Because of this, the treatment takes longer.
Salicylic ointment fights the following types of skin tumors:
- warts;
- keratomas;
- spikes;
- condylomas;
- filamentous papillomas.
In addition, the preparation is prescribed for various dermatological problems, as it has a bactericidal and wound-healing effect.
The salicylic ointment contains the following ingredients:
- Salicylic acid. The substance is colorless crystals that dissolve well in ethanol, diethyl ether and other organic solvents. It is poorly soluble in water.
- Vaseline. Paste-like liquid, odorless and tasteless. When it undergoes complete purification, it becomes transparent; with partial cleaning, the color of the material ranges from black to pale yellow. It is insoluble in water and alcohol, but soluble in ether and chloroform. It is not subject to saponification with alkaline solutions, oxidation or rancidity in air. It is the basis of many ointments, including salicylic ointment against papillomas.
The concentration of salicylic acid in 100 g of ointment is 2-60 g, depending on the percentage of the drug. The concentration of petroleum jelly is 98-40 g/100 g of medicine, also depending on the acid content.
Packed in glass or plastic containers, sealed with plastic lids. The most common dosage is 2% or 3%, with a volume of 25 g, but 1%, 5%, 10% and 60% ointments are also available, in amounts up to 100 g.
Analogues of salicylic ointment are not direct analogues, but drugs that have a similar effect on the epidermis.
Benefits of salicylic ointment for papillomas
The drug has a very active effect on the epidermis. It kills HPV concentrated in the mutant cells of the neoplasm, helps suppress the secretion of sebum and sweat, which reduces the likelihood of further infection of the tissues by pathogens, promotes the exfoliation of dead cells and restores the integrity of the skin.
Salicylic ointment for papillomas has the following effects:
- Keratolytic. The drug helps to soften, dissolve and exfoliate the keratinized epidermis.
- Disinfectant. Since the acid 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 dilation of blood vessels. This improves tissue trophism and allows the drug to penetrate into the deep layers of the tumor. It also suppresses pain impulses caused by growth.
- Anti-inflammatory. The wound heals and the cause of the tumor, the human papilloma virus, is overcome. This allows you to avoid irritation, suppuration, swelling and other complications that can occur when the skin is damaged.
- Regenerative. Given that salicylic acid improves blood circulation at the site of application, it promotes the rapid restoration of healthy cells and the replacement of exfoliating keratinized particles.
Salicylic ointment is not only used to treat papillomas, it successfully fights boils and pimples, helps soften calluses and eliminates skin inflammation.
Instructions for use of salicylic acid ointment for papillomas
For the treatment of papillomas and vulgar warts, it is better to use 5% ointment, to combat more serious keratinized growths, such as thorns, more than 10% ointment is suitable.
Some sources claim that to achieve a stronger effect, it is worth using salicylic ointment with a concentration of 60% active ingredient. However, we strongly do not recommend this. This product is very aggressive and can seriously damage healthy skin.
To avoid unwanted side effects, be sure to read the instructions for using salicylic acid ointment for papillomas.
Algorithm for combating product thorns:
- It is better to perform 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 boiling water. Scrub with a pumice stone and use a nail file to cut off as much dead skin cells as possible.
- Before removing papillomas with salicylic ointment, there is no need to treat the skin around the tumor with additional protective agents, but excessive contact of the drug with healthy skin should be avoided.
- 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 use a pumice stone to scrape off cells that have died overnight. Do this carefully, without strong physical pressure.
- If the growth is not completely gone, repeat the evening treatments until the tumor is completely exfoliated.
Using salicylic ointment to remove vulgar warts and papillomas:
- Wash the treated area 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 dressing.
- After 12 hours, remove the poultice, wait 10-12 hours and repeat the treatment if necessary.
The duration of use of salicylic acid 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 acid ointment
Since the drug can enter the bloodstream and affect nerve endings, there are very strict contraindications to the use of this drug.
Salicylic ointment should not be used by the following people:
- Pregnant and lactating. The ban is related to the possibility that the drug affects the fetus, as well as penetrates into breast milk and affects the child during breastfeeding.
- For allergy sufferers. This product is quite aggressive. Therefore, people prone to allergic skin reactions should avoid using it.
- For diabetics. Due to the fact that the drug penetrates into the blood, it can affect blood sugar levels, which can negatively affect the health of diabetics.
- People with kidney failure. The drug may affect the body's urinary system. Therefore, it is better for people suffering from diseases of this system to resort to less aggressive means.
- Patients with circulatory diseases. Due to possible penetration into the blood, salicylic ointment against papillomas can affect the blood count.
- Children under 12 years of age. Acid entering the blood and the fact that children's skin is more prone to irritation and allergic reactions than adults can play a role in this.
It is also worth noting that the use of this drug is subject to the same restrictions as all medicinal products used to combat benign tumors. First, you need to make sure that this formation is benign. Also, for home use, the growth must be of low carcinogenicity.
You cannot treat papillomas on the mucous membranes, near the eyes or on active hair areas. 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.
In general, the use of the ointment does not lead to serious side effects. But not following the safety rules and using a product with a high acid concentration (for example, 60%) can have a harmful effect on the epidermis.
Possible side effects of salicylic ointment:
- Burning. Using the product may cause a burning sensation and mild pain. Usually, this effect disappears within a few minutes after applying the solution. It does not require further therapy.
- Chemical burn. It is possible if the drug comes into contact with the healthy epithelium around the tumor in large quantities. In this case, the treated area should be rinsed with plenty of warm water for 10-15 minutes and a surgeon should be contacted.
- Scarring of tissues. This is due to non-compliance with the rules for the use of the drug. In a deep chemical burn, when a large area is injured, the tissue begins to scar as it heals. In this case, the use of special absorbent creams or surgical correction of the defect is necessary.
The results of using salicylic ointment papillomas
The effectiveness of salicylic acid ointment in the treatment of papillomas is quite high. Also, the higher the concentration of salicylic acid in the product, the greater the effectiveness. However, this is directly proportional to the occurrence of side effects.
To remove a small papilloma, 1-3 treatments with a 60% concentration product will be needed. The thorn disappears in 5-7 treatments.
When using an ointment with a concentration of 5-10%, the fight against a small wart lasts about a week. Spine removal can take up to 21 days. An old, large, dry callus may require several courses of 3 weeks each.
Real reviews about salicylic acid ointment for papillomas
Salicylic ointment has received a lot of criticism because it is a popular medicinal product. However, most of the answers are related to the treatment of dermatological diseases that are not related to the manifestations of the human papillomavirus, but are related to the fight against acne, psoriasis and seborrhea. However, there are also those that are specifically related to the fight against papillomas.
- "I had to remove a papilloma on my leg. I started with patches. Unfortunately, this treatment had no effect. Then, after reading reviews about salicylic acid ointment for papillomas, I decided to try it. I do not hide that the cheap price of this drug also attracted me. The first 3 days of use showed no effect. I even decided to stop treatment, but a friend advised me to continue. As a result, the removal of the spine took 2 months. I had no discomfort during the treatments, the effect, although slow, was there. So I decided to continue until I see my wart disappear. I am satisfied with the effect, I recommend the product. "
- "We decided to buy salicylic ointment to remove vulgar warts from the hands of a 14-year-old boy. The treatment was very simple and did not cause any discomfort to the child - no pain, burning or itching. It is very difficult to get a teenager to undergo the treatment, and here it was only possible because the application took very little time and was painless. Before going to bed at night, my son washed the warts with soap, then applied a thin layer of ointment. The tumor was covered with a standard bactericidal disposable patch. She took it off in the morning and went to school. In the evening, the procedure was repeated. After 5 days, the warts softened, then dried up a bit and fell off. I had a barely noticeable mark on my fingers that disappeared within the next week. Based on the child's experience, I decided to remove papillomas from my neck. I consider this remedy unsuitable for this area, as the skin of the neck, unlike the hands, is sensitive, and there was a very strong burning sensation and pain. The effect was good, but I think it is better to use a gentler product. "
- "After pregnancy, new growths appeared on my body. And papillomas, warts, keratomas, spikes, just a bunch of trouble caused by the human papillomavirus. When I finished breastfeeding before going back to work after maternity leave, I decided to clean myself up. I started with a splint on my leg, as it was not only ugly, but also made it difficult to walk. It took me a month to treat my papilloma with salicylic ointment. Other tumors disappeared within 2 weeks. But unlike the treatment of the leg, it was unpleasant - it was quite warm and itchy. Fortunately, no trace was left. "
Salicylic ointment has proven to be a cure for benign tumors caused by HPV. Undisputed advantages include the fact that applications can be done at home, the product is affordable, and salicylic ointment is available in pharmacies without a prescription. If the instructions are strictly followed, its use is safe and painless. Among the disadvantages of this drug is the fact that its use is quite long.