Psoriasis is a serious chronic disease that appears externally in the form of dry flaky plaques on the skin. It is difficult to treat it; complex therapy is usually used. Salicylic ointment is often used in psoriasis. Reviews note that this tool can significantly improve the skin condition of the patient. Salicylic ointment has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, effectively relieves itching and peeling. So far, no serious medical research has been conducted on the use of salicylic ointment for psoriasis. The reviews of doctors and patients who have used this tool help other patients also choose this effective treatment.
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic dermatological disease. After all, its main symptoms are the appearance on the body of dry spots that rise above the surface of the skin. They flaky, itchy, often inflamed. Usually there are such plaques in places that rub against clothes - elbows, knees, buttocks. But often, peeling of the skin occurs on the scalp, and even on the fingers. Sometimes the disease manifests itself in the form of deterioration of the condition of the nails.
Psoriasis has a non-infectious nature, it occurs due to a violation of the body's immune system. Therefore, the treatment of this disease is always long and should be comprehensive. Only using several drugs at the same time can achieve a stable remission and improve the condition of the skin.
Salicylic ointment
This drug based on salicylic acid has been used in dermatology for a long time. Salicylic acid is isolated from willow bark and is used as an antiseptic, drying and anti-inflammatory agent. For a long time, the ointment has been used to heal various wounds and treat skin diseases.
This tool is able to exfoliate dead skin particles, relieve inflammation and itching, accelerate cell regeneration processes. These properties are used in the treatment of psoriasis. Salicylic-zinc paste, sulfuric-salicylic or just salicylic ointment are often used as part of complex therapy. It is impossible to completely cure psoriasis only with these agents, but they significantly improve the patient’s skin condition and increase the effectiveness of other drugs.
Composition and release forms
The main component of this ointment is salicylic acid. It was first extracted from willow bark, and is now produced industrially. In medicine, drugs are used that contain various concentrations of salicylic acid - from 2 to 60%. With psoriasis, a 1-5% concentration is used. Such an ointment can be applied to any part of the body, it rarely causes irritation and goes well with other drugs. The ointment is based on petrolatum, which promotes a uniform distribution of acid over the skin. This product is available in tubes or jars of dark glass.
Ointments are sometimes used in psoriasis, in which, in addition to salicylic acid, other components are contained. It can be plant extracts, solidol or other substances. They cost more than salicylic ointment itself, which is a rather cheap drug: 25 gram packaging can be bought for 25-30 rubles, but they act worse. The only combination drugs that are just as effective are sulfur-salicylic ointment and salicylic-zinc paste. With psoriasis of ICH (scalp), they are better to use, since they have a milder effect.
The action of salicylic ointment
This medication is not specific for the treatment of psoriasis. It is impossible to cure this disease only with its help, but it is salicylic ointment that effectively prepares the patient’s dry skin for the penetration of other drugs, softening it. The use of this drug with corticosteroids is especially advisable, since it enhances their effect.
Among the main effects of salicylic ointment for psoriasis, reviews note its softening and anti-inflammatory effect. It relieves itching, redness, removes peeling and accelerates tissue regeneration. Due to this, not only the area of the skin affected by the disease is reduced, but the appearance of new plaques is also prevented. The antiseptic effect of the ointment also contributes to the improvement of the patient's condition. Destroying microbes, it prevents the spread of the inflammatory process.
The use of salicylic ointment has such positive effects:
- cracks and wounds heal faster;
- inflammation and redness passes;
- scabs disappear;
- absorption of drugs is accelerated;
- dead skin is exfoliated;
- psoriatic plaques soften.
Indications for use
Doctors often prescribe salicylic ointment for psoriasis. Reviews of patients note that when this drug is included in complex therapy, skin condition improves faster. Salicylic ointment is effective in treating various skin lesions, wounds and cracks. It is often used in the following cases:
- with diaper rash;
- eczema
- red lichen;
- ichthyosis;
- pyoderma;
- seborrhea;
- acne;
- warts and calluses.
In the latter case, a pencil or ointment in 60% concentration is used. But with psoriasis at any stage of its development, usually 2% of the drug is used. Moreover, this ointment can treat the skin on the hands and feet, the scalp. In some forms of the disease, zinc or sulfur compounds are effective. For example, salicylic-zinc ointment for nail psoriasis is often used. Reviews of this treatment note that the nail plates are quickly aligned, stop crumbling and acquire a natural color.
Application features
For the treatment of psoriasis, usually 2% salicylic ointment is used. It is not recommended to use higher concentrations, sometimes only a doctor can recommend a 5% composition if there is no strong inflammatory process. And 10% ointment is not used even on rough areas of the skin, as it can cause irritation.
It is advisable to use this drug only after consulting a doctor, even though it is well tolerated by patients. Apply ointment to the affected skin 2-3 times a day. It is advisable to do this after a shower or even a bath. Steamed skin absorbs the drug better. The ointment is created on the basis of petroleum jelly, it is quite oily and does not immediately absorb. Therefore, it is recommended that you stay at home for some time after application.
The duration of treatment for psoriasis with salicylic ointment is individual. Usually it is not used for more than 3 weeks, as it can be addictive.
Salicylic-zinc ointment for psoriasis
The effect of this treatment has been noted by many doctors and patients. In combination with zinc oxide, salicylic acid more quickly relieves inflammation and itching. And zinc itself protects the skin, prevents the development of the disease. This drug accelerates cell regeneration, which is very important for such a disease. Therefore, there are so many positive reviews of zinc ointment for psoriasis. Indications for its use are various skin lesions, inflammation, cracks and wounds, acne and corns. Zinc-salicylic ointment is effective for eczema, dermatitis. But the combination of zinc with salicylic acid limits the use of the drug, since it can cause irritation in some patients.
Often also used salicylic-zinc ointment for nail psoriasis. To do this, it is recommended to steam up your hands in the evening, wipe them dry and apply a thin layer of the drug. Then they put on cotton gloves and leave the ointment until morning. Similar actions are needed for damage to the toenails.
The use of sulfur-salicylic ointment
Reviews about this treatment are also positive. This combination drug has long been successfully used in the treatment of lichen, scabies, eczema and psoriasis. The combination of sulfur with salicylic acid has a strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. This composition makes the drug safer and more effective, as it prevents the spread of germs, inflammation and the appearance of wounds. Therefore, of all such drugs, sulfur-salicylic ointment is more popular. The reviews of doctors and patients note that its use as part of complex therapy significantly accelerates recovery and improves skin condition.
Instructions for use of ointment
The treatment of psoriasis is a rather complex and lengthy process. And the use of this ointment is no exception. If you simply lubricate the affected areas of the skin, you may not achieve the desired effect. When using salicylic ointment, certain rules must be observed:
- first, it is imperative to wash the affected area and clean from pus and dead cells, for this it is advisable to take a warm shower;
- treat the skin with an antiseptic prescribed by a doctor;
- using a cotton swab, gently apply salicylic ointment to psoriatic plaques;
- in the presence of wounds and large cracks, the ointment is impregnated with an ointment and applied to the affected area;
- if blisters have formed on the skin, they cannot be punctured, and the ointment is also not applied to them.
Usually apply the drug 1-3 times a day. But sometimes it is recommended to use a sterile dressing with ointment, changing it once a day.
Contraindications
This medication contains salicylic acid, which, if used improperly, can cause skin irritation or more serious allergic reactions. Therefore, there are certain contraindications to its use. Do not use salicylic ointment without a doctor's prescription, since the course of treatment for psoriasis should be individual, depending on the characteristics of the course of the disease. In addition, it is contraindicated to use the drug for young children, pregnant women and people with a tendency to allergic reactions. It is also undesirable to prescribe it to patients with renal failure and with a stomach ulcer.
In addition, you can not apply ointment to the skin if there are moles or warts with hairs in this place. Do not use the drug even in the lowest dosage in the inguinal region, on the mucous membranes. When treating the skin, it is necessary to ensure that the ointment is not applied to more than 30% of the body, because salicylic acid is absorbed into the blood, although in small quantities, but it can cause unwanted effects. It is best to treat psoriatic plaques alternately. Do not apply more than 10 ml of ointment at the same time.
Side effects and drug interactions
Many people use salicylic ointment for psoriasis. Reviews note that it is well tolerated, rarely causes side effects. But sometimes allergic reactions to this drug are possible. This is a strong redness of the skin, itching, rash, swelling, increased inflammation. To avoid this, before the first use, an individual intolerance test is performed. To do this, a small amount of ointment is applied to the skin in the region of the wrist or elbow and wait a while. If there are no undesirable effects, the drug can be used. Sometimes such side effects do not appear immediately, but with prolonged use of salicylic ointment. In this case, they are most likely associated with an overdose or an excess of the course of treatment. Most often they occur if you apply the ointment for longer than 21 days.
It is advisable to use salicylic ointment only after consulting a doctor. After all, it does not combine with all drugs, sometimes toxic compounds occur during their interaction. Salicylic acid is well combined with hormonal agents. Combined drugs are even produced: Belosalik, Akriderm, Betasal and others. A combination of salicylic ointment with birch tar is also effective. Especially often, this combination is used to treat psoriasis of the scalp.
Reviews on the use of the drug
Salicylic ointment is often used as part of the complex treatment of psoriasis. In addition to a simple composition, its combinations with zinc oxide or sulfur are used. Especially a lot of positive reviews about salicylic-zinc ointment for psoriasis. The combination of these components contributes to faster exfoliation of plaques, drying of wounds and cracks, as well as the removal of inflammation. This drug significantly improves the patient's condition and accelerates the onset of remission. Many patients like the fact that salicylic ointment dulls itching and improves skin condition.