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 combat tumors caused by the human papillomavirus. This is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is used externally only.
To remove papillomas and warts, salicylic acid, which is the main component of the ointment, is used most often. In solution form, it has a stronger effect on the skin. However, it also hurts her more. The ointment, in turn, demonstrates the same healing effect, but does it more gently. Because of this, treatment takes a longer period of time.
Salicylic ointment fights the following types of skin tumors:
- warts;
- keratomas;
- spines;
- condylomas;
- 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 is colorless crystals that are highly soluble in ethanol, diethyl ether and other organic solvents. It has poor solubility in water.
- Petrolatum. A paste-like liquid, odorless and tasteless. If it undergoes complete purification, it becomes translucent; the use of partial purification gives the substance a color from black to pale yellow. Insoluble in water and alcohol, but soluble in ether and chloroform. It is not subject to saponification with an alkali solution, oxidation, or rancidity in air. Serves as the basis for many ointments, including salicylic ointment against papillomas.
The concentration of salicylic acid in 100 g of ointment ranges 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. However, you can also find 1%, 5%, 10% and 60% ointment on sale, with a volume of up to 100 g.
Analogs 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 mutated cells of the neoplasm, helps suppress the secretion of sebum and sweat, which reduces the likelihood of additional infection of tissues by pathogens, helps exfoliate dead cells and restore the integrity of the skin.
Salicylic ointment for papillomas has the following effects:
- Keratolytic. The drug helps soften, dissolve and exfoliate the 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 detrimental 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 pain impulses resulting from cauterization of the growth.
- Anti-inflammatory. The wound heals and the cause of the tumor, the human papilloma virus, is combated. This allows you to avoid irritation, suppuration, swelling and other complications that may occur when the skin is damaged.
- Regenerating. Due to the fact that salicylic acid improves blood circulation at the site of application, this promotes the rapid restoration of healthy cells and their replacement of exfoliated keratinized particles.
Salicylic ointment is used not only for the treatment of papillomas, it successfully fights boils, acne, helps soften callous growths and eliminates any skin inflammation.
Instructions for use of salicylic ointment for papillomas
To treat papillomas and vulgar warts, it is better to use a 5% ointment; to combat more serious keratinized growths, such as spines, a 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 the active substance of 60%. However, doing this yourself is highly not recommended. 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 using salicylic ointment for papillomas.
Algorithm for using the product to combat thorns:
- It is better to perform the treatment before bedtime, 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 much dead skin cells as possible with nail scissors.
- Before removing papillomas with salicylic ointment, there is no need to additionally treat the skin around the tumor with protective agents, but you should 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 from several layers of bandage.
- In the morning, wash the treated area and scrape off the cells that have died overnight with a pumice stone. Do this carefully, without strong physical pressure.
- If the growth is not completely gone, repeat the evening treatments until the tumor completely peels off.
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, Vaseline 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 adhesive 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 take the course again.
Contraindications and side effects of salicylic ointment
Since the drug can enter the bloodstream and affect nerve endings, there are very strict contraindications for the use of this drug.
Salicylic ointment should not be used by the following persons:
- Pregnant and breastfeeding. The ban is associated with the possibility of the drug influencing the fetus, as well as its penetration into breast milk and impact on the child during lactation.
- For allergy sufferers. This product is quite aggressive. Therefore, people prone to allergic skin reactions should avoid using it.
- For patients with diabetes. Due to the fact that the drug can penetrate into the blood, it can affect blood sugar levels, which can negatively affect the health of people with diabetes.
- People with kidney failure. The drug can 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 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 here.
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. Moreover, to be allowed to use at home, the growth must be low-tumorigenic.
You cannot treat papillomas on the mucous membranes, near the eyes, or in areas of active hair. But you can use salicylic ointment for papillomas on 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 ointment does not lead to serious side effects. But failure to follow safety rules and use of a product with a high acid concentration (for example, 60%) can have a detrimental effect on the epidermis.
Possible side effects of salicylic ointment:
- Burning. Using the product may lead to a burning sensation and mild pain. As a rule, this effect disappears within a few minutes after applying the solution. 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.
- Scarring of tissue. This happens due to non-compliance 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 using salicylic ointment for papillomas
The effectiveness of salicylic ointment in the treatment of papillomas is quite high. Moreover, the higher the concentration of salicylic acid in the product, the higher the effectiveness. However, it is directly proportional to the occurrence of side effects.
To remove a small papilloma with a product with a 60% concentration, 1-3 treatments will be needed. The thorn will go away 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. Removing the spine can take a course of 21 days. An old, large, dry callus may require several courses of 3 weeks each.
Real reviews of salicylic ointment for papillomas
Salicylic ointment has received a lot of reviews, as it is a popular medical product. However, most of the responses concern the treatment of dermatological ailments not associated with manifestations of the human papillomavirus, but relate to the fight against acne, psoriasis, and seborrhea. However, there are also those that relate specifically to the fight against papillomas.
- "I needed to remove a papilloma on my foot. I started with using patches. Unfortunately, this treatment had no effect. Then, after reading the reviews about salicylic ointment for papillomas, I decided to try it. I won’t hide the fact that I was also captivated by the cheap 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 go away. I’m 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 discomfort to the child - there was no pain, burning, or itching. It is very difficult to persuade a teenager to undergo treatment, and here 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 he applied a thin layer of ointment. The neoplasm was covered with a regular bactericidal disposable patch. By morning he took it off and went to school. In the evening the procedure was repeated. After 5 days, the warts softened, then dried out a little and fell off. There was a barely noticeable mark on my fingers, which went away over the next week. Inspired by the child’s experience, I decided to remove the papillomas from my neck. I consider this remedy unsuitable for this area, since, unlike the hands, the skin on the neck is delicate and there was a very strong burning sensation and pain. The effect was good, but I think it’s better to use a more gentle product. "
- "After pregnancy, new growths appeared on my body. And papillomas, and warts, keratomas, spines, just a whole bunch of troubles caused by the human papillomavirus. When I finished breastfeeding, before going back to work after maternity leave, I decided to get myself in order. I started with a splint on my foot, since it was not only ugly, but also made it difficult to walk. It took me a month to treat her with salicylic ointment for papillomas. Other tumors went away within 2 weeks. But unlike treatment of the foot, there was discomfort - it was quite hot and itchy. Luckily, there were no traces left. "
Salicylic ointment has proven itself as a remedy against benign tumors caused by HPV. The undeniable advantages include the fact that applications can be carried out 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. The disadvantages of this drug include the fact that its use is quite long.