The composition of salicylic acid is important for everyone who regularly uses this medicine. It helps with many diseases, demonstrating high effectiveness. Currently, saplicylic acid is found in most home medicine kits. The drug brings a lot of benefits and costs quite a bit, but you should always remember that it has certain contraindications and side effects. About this, as well as about the properties and features of the use of this acid, we will discuss in this article.
Composition and form of release
The composition of salicylic acid depends on the form of release in which this medicine can be found in pharmacies. It is released in the form of an alcohol solution or ointment for external use.
Alcohol solution can be one or two percent. In this case, salicylic acid contains one or two grams of the active substance. The excipient is 70 percent ethyl alcohol. The result is a colorless and transparent liquid with a characteristic odor of alcohol. It is produced in bottles of 25, 40 or 80 ml. One cardboard box contains one bottle.
Ointment for external use is the same different. Two, five or 10 percent. Depending on the percentage of salicylic acid, 2, 5 or 10 g of the active substance. In this case, petroleum jelly acts as an auxiliary component. The ointment is obtained in the form of a homogeneous substance from a light yellow white color. It is packed in cans of 25 or 40 g or tubes of 30 and 40 g. It is sold in cardboard boxes, in which they place one tube or can.
The discovery of a healing agent
The first to remove salicylic acid was the Italian chemist Rafael Piria, who lived in the 19th century. He later synthesized it.
Piria was born in the Italian commune of Scilla in 1814. From the age of 15, he studied the basics of medical science in Naples, and after that he concentrated on chemistry, going to Paris for this. Throughout his career, he has been teaching at universities, including Pisa and Turin.
His contribution to modern science is highly regarded today. Piria is the founder of fundamentally new methods of synthesis in organic chemistry. A number of drugs discovered by him made a real revolution in 19th century medicine. The Italian scientist was the first to divide the bitter glycoside, which is contained in the willow bark, i.e. salicin, into two parts. It was he who managed to establish that it was the acidic component (these were salicylic acid) that has healing properties.
Having isolated it from the willow bark, he successfully determined the chemical composition of this substance, and then synthesized it. Officially, the year 1838 is considered the year of discovery of salicylic acid. Today its most famous derivative is aspirin.
In fact, this was the first purification of the substance for the subsequent development of aspirin, which Hoffman managed to withdraw in 1897, having achieved acetylation in a stable form of chemically pure salicylic acid.
Piria himself did not live up to this point. He died in Turin in 1865 at the age of 50.
The properties
The tool is used for various diseases and ailments. It is important to clearly understand how to use salicylic acid. If we are talking about pharmacodynamics, the drug has antiseptic, keratolytic, irritating and anti-inflammatory effects. The effect of salicylic acid can actively contribute to the acceleration of wound healing, cleaning surfaces with mechanical damage to the skin. In this case, the drug prevents the breakdown of proteins into amino acids.
When analyzing the properties of salicylic acid, attention should be paid to pharmacokinetics. Often this tool is used under an occlusive dressing. In this case, the maximum plasma concentration will be reached approximately five hours after application. Salicylic acid is excreted from the human body mainly in the form of metabolic products. The solution is able to actively inhibit the secretion of sweat and sebaceous glands.
Recommendations and contraindications
What helps salicylic acid, is described in detail in the instructions for this drug. In the form of an alcoholic solution and ointment, it is recommended to use it in the treatment of burns, acne vulgaris, psoriasis, wounds, chronic eczema, oily seborrhea, hyperkeratosis, dyskeratosis, corns, ichthyosis, pityriasis versicolor.
When treating salicylic acid, it is important to remember what contraindications you may encounter. This tool is strongly not recommended for children and adolescents under the age of 18 years, with renal failure, increased sensitivity to the components of the drug.
During feeding and during pregnancy, this drug should also not be used, since there is no data on how this can affect the body of a future or young mother.
Instructions for use
A photo of salicylic acid is well known to everyone who uses this tool in everyday life. With its help, as a rule, the affected surface is treated, doing this two to three times a day. For an adult patient, the maximum dose size corresponds to 20 ml of a 1% solution or 10 ml of a 2% solution per day.
For children, the maximum dose cannot exceed 2 ml of a 1% solution or 1 ml of a 2% solution throughout the day. It should be noted that the total duration of the drug can not exceed one week.
To the question of what salicylic acid helps with, perhaps the most common answer will be the fight against acne. It is from this misfortune that it is most often used in everyday life. In this case, the drug is prescribed in the form of a one percent solution. If several characteristic rashes are present on the skin, a life-saving agent should be applied to each of them. In cases where there are too many acne on the face, salicylic acid is recommended to wipe the entire surface of the skin, using a cotton swab moistened with plenty of solution.
The method of using salicylic acid in the form of an ointment is similar in nature. It is applied externally with a thin layer once or twice a day. If it is necessary to treat burns or wounds, the area of the affected surface should be pre-treated carefully. It must be cleaned of necrotic tissue, open all the bubbles and gently rinse with an antiseptic solution. Only after all these manipulations do they apply the ointment and cover it with a sterile napkin. Alternatively, you can use a sterile dressing with ointment. The dressing or napkin changes every two to three days until it is completely cleansed of necrotic and purulent masses.
In this case, the duration of treatment should be determined individually in consultation with the attending physician. It directly depends on the severity of the lesion.
Side effects
The use of this drug has become so popular also because it does not have many side effects, but cases of overdose of salicylic acid have not been recorded at all.
In the treatment of some patients, reactions are possible that can be caused by individual intolerance to the individual components that make up salicylic acid. Various allergic reactions are also likely. In particular, itching, burning, hyperemia, skin rash.
No effect of this drug on the management of complex mechanisms and vehicles has been identified. In this case, doctors have developed certain specific recommendations for its use. In particular, they strongly advise against applying salicylic acid to warts, especially those located on the face and genitals. This can lead to negative consequences, only exacerbate the situation. A similar reaction is possible if salicylic acid is used, applying it to moles.
In case of unintentional contact with this substance on the mucous membranes, it is necessary to rinse the corresponding area immediately with plenty of clean drinking water.
With hyperemia, an increase in the absorption of salicylic acid is likely. The same reaction is observed when used on wet wounds and inflammations.
Salicylic Acid Derivatives
In tablets, salicylic acid can be found among its derivatives. Preparations based on it are actively used as traditional antirheumatic drugs, as they have anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic effects.
It is worth emphasizing that in its pure form, salicylic acid is used only for external use, if there is a need to take it inside, then they take sodium salt. In this case, the product is actively excreted from the body through the sweat glands and kidneys. Salicylic acid salts themselves are low toxic, but they can still cause additional side effects due to the fact that with rheumatism they are prescribed in large doses. This is tinnitus, shortness of breath, skin rashes.
Perhaps the most famous derivative is acetylsalicylic acid or aspirin. This is a classic antipyretic. In some countries, it is used to treat rheumatism.
Methyl ether or methyl salicylate is a liquid that should be used to treat neuralgic and rheumatic pains as a grind.
Derivatives of salicylic acid in tablets and powders are phenacetin. It is used in complex treatment with antipyretic drugs. Among other drugs, "Antipyrine" in combination with other drugs, "Analgin" (it is used not only in tablets, but also parenterally, that is, intramuscularly, subcutaneously and intravenously) should be distinguished.
"Butadion" is another derivative of salicylic acid in tablets. According to the instructions, this tool is used to prevent the formation of prostaglandins in the body.
Sodium salicylate helps with rheumatism. It comes in the form of tablets, powder and solution. 10-15% solutions are administered intravenously, and the duration of treatment depends on the severity of the disease.
Indications
We have already talked about the most popular ways to use salicylic acid. Now you need to dwell on all areas in which this drug is involved. An effective acid is considered with the following pathologies:
- hyperkeratosis and hyperhidrosis;
- inflammatory and infectious skin diseases;
- eczema;
- burns;
- pityriasis versicolor and psoriasis;
- hair loss and seborrhea;
- erythrasma;
- pyoderma;
- ichthyosis;
- mycosis of the feet;
- removal of warts, acne, getting rid of black spots, corns, corns;
- multi-colored lichen;
- dermatitis.
In addition to the solution and ointment, there are several other forms in which salicylic acid is used for treatment. For example, with otitis media, Otinum drops are used, which are instilled into the ear canal. This should be done twice a day - a dose of six drops.
There is salicylic acid based corn fluid that helps get rid of corns. With its help, a characteristic film forms on the skin, which the patient independently removes a few days after the start of treatment.
In powders, two or five percent salicylic acid is used. It is effective for hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating of the legs. In these cases, a powder called "Galmanin" is used. It contains two parts of salicylic acid, as well as 44 parts of talc and ten parts of zinc oxide.
Salicylic acid is also part of the Salipod corn plaster. It is fixed on the skin for an average of two days. Reuse is possible up to the complete disappearance of corns.
Finally, an effective remedy is Persalan. It helps to strengthen hair. This is a liquid that is applied to the head and then insulated with a towel. After half an hour, the hair should be washed with warm water. It is recommended to use this tool in the diagnosis of oily seborrhea.
Application for various pathologies
Salicylic acid itself and its derivatives are actively used in all kinds of pathologies in the treatment of skin manifestations and diseases in various fields.
The acid itself, as well as its preparations, can have a powerful exfoliating effect on the skin. That's what salicylic acid is good at fighting simple acne. In this case, its action is based on softening of the upper layer of the skin, as well as follicle plugs, which prevents the formation of comedones. In this case, as a rule, salicylic alcohol is used, that is, one or two percent alcohol solutions of salicylic acid. Using higher concentrations in the treatment of acne is considered irrational.
Also, this tool helps with skin diseases. Acid is part of many drugs. These are gels, creams, lotions, shampoos, for example, Sebium AKN or Klerasil. In this case, the skin is wiped with an appropriate solution once or twice a day. When using low concentrations of side effects are not observed. However, people with sensitive skin may still experience dryness caused by salicylic alcohol. To avoid this, an important rule should be observed - do not apply salicylic alcohol to the skin after cleansing it with alcohol gels, lotions, scrubs. It is also not recommended to combine it with benzoyl peroxide.
The concern for many young people is caused by age spots that form on the skin after squeezing acne. At home, they are wiped with salicylic alcohol, and in beauty salons they can be dealt with on the basis of whitening masks, which are made from bodyagi and salicylic alcohol.
Many are simply amazed at what salicylic acid does in cosmetology. With a powerful antibacterial effect, it actively interacts with skin cells. The obvious advantages of this tool in cosmetology are:
- help from acne due to unhindered penetration into the sebaceous glands and the dissolution of sebum;
- improvement of the skin recovery process;
- inhibition of skin aging;
- lack of negative effects on the immune system and photosensitivity of the skin;
- possible use for sensitive, problematic and oily skin;
- cosmetics based on salicylic acid can be used daily.
For example, in the field of cosmetology, peels with this agent are often used. In addition to salicylic acid, glycolic acid is also used. Such a peeling helps with photoaging, acne, seborrheic dermatitis, post-acne, and homedecosis. Spend it, applying a special mixture on the skin for several minutes. Then a light massage is carried out directly along the facial lines and the mixture is removed using cotton pads. In conclusion, the skin surface is washed with warm water.
It is worth noting that salicylic acid should not be contained in children's cosmetics. The only exceptions are shampoos.
It is important that this tool also has preservative properties. In this capacity, acid is used in dermatology. Some use it for domestic purposes, for example, in the manufacture of homemade blanks - the preservation of cucumbers and tomatoes.
Patient impressions
Reviews on the use of salicylic acid are mostly positive. For example, with the help of a one percent solution, it is possible to effectively get rid of the black dots that appear in many young girls in the forehead and nose.
Daily wiping with a 2% salicylic acid solution eliminates the effect of oily skin. You can forget about a glossy face with an unpleasant shine, there is no need to use wet wipes.
For many, acid is the only effective anti-acne remedy. After just a few weeks of regular use, the skin is cleansed. This is noted by many who use it.
Of the negative, only the inability to use for adolescents and the duration of use to achieve a positive result are noted.