An ointment containing sulfur is effective for skin diseases caused by fungi (dermatomycosis): lichen, epidermophytosis and others. Another area of its use is the treatment of scabies: here, sulfuric ointment, the use of which gives an excellent therapeutic effect, practically knows no equal. It is also used in the treatment of seborrhea, psoriasis, as well as in sycosis - inflammation of the hair follicles caused by staphylococcus.
100 grams of sulfuric ointment contains 33.3 mg of precipitated sulfur. The basis for it is petroleum jelly with an emulsifier and a small amount of water. Its use in medical practice is due to the ability to react with organic substances, resulting in the formation of pentathionic acid and sulfides. They provide an antimicrobial, antiparasitic and keratolytic effect from the use of drugs with sulfur. For a long time, this substance, purified and precipitated, was used in dermatology not only as an ointment, but also in powders.
Sulfur ointment is applied from depriving or other skin diseases to any part of the body, excluding the face and scalp. With ringworm, it is usually used in combination with iodine cauterization. The treatment for this disease usually takes about ten days. With scabies, a sulfuric ointment, the use of which must be combined with boiling bedding and disinfecting personal items and upholstered furniture, is rubbed into the skin, except for the scalp and face, once a day for five days. During all this time it is undesirable to take a shower or bath - this can be done only after the end of the course, a day after the last rubbing of the ointment.
With the skin form of demodicosis, a disease caused by the smallest parasite mite, Demodex (Acne iron), sulfuric ointment can also significantly alleviate the patient’s condition and appearance. The skin with this disease is covered with red spots, similar to acne: a mite parasitizes at the mouths of hair follicles and ducts of the sebaceous glands. With the advanced form of the disease, the skin acquires a purple hue and becomes uneven. Sulfur ointment from demodex is quite effective - in this disease its use should be combined with the oral administration of the antimicrobial drug Metronidazole. It should be remembered that it is undesirable to use sulfuric ointment on the skin of the face, therefore it is necessary to consult a doctor first.
Thus, sulfuric ointment, the use of which is also indicated for dermatitis and acne, is an effective, proven over the years remedy for skin diseases. However, it also has a serious drawback - it is a persistent, unpleasant odor. In addition, sulfuric ointment, the use of which usually gives a good effect, stains clothes and bedding. Using it for longer than ten days in a row is undesirable: in this case, however, as with repeated treatment, skin irritation may occur. Its appearance is possible and almost immediately - with individual intolerance to the components of the ointment. Nevertheless, this remedy is quite harmless: with external use, its components do not enter the bloodstream.
Sulfur ointment can not be treated for children under the age of three, and before the age of five, it is possible only with the permission of a doctor. It should be used at any age only according to the scheme prescribed by the dermatologist. The ointment in the eyes or on the mucous membranes is extremely undesirable - in this case, rinse them with water.
Sulfur ointment is produced in tubes or banks of dark glass. It should be stored in the dark in a cool place. It must be remembered that sulfuric ointment in the treatment of skin diseases cannot be combined with external agents, which include organic compounds, since sulfur can react with them.