General description of the medication
Zinc ointment is one of the forms of the drug in which the main active substance is zinc oxide. In 100 gr. white substance contains 10 grams. zinc oxide and 90 gr. Vaseline. Due to the absence of hormonal substances and antibiotics in the composition, the product is considered safe and if it is used, an overdose is not possible. Zinc ointment for acne can be used during pregnancy and lactation.
Does zinc ointment help with acne?
Many people are interested in whether it is true that zinc ointment copes with acne. This is true! The product not only relieves redness and irritation. The composition dries out the skin perfectly and stops the swelling of acne.
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To correct the situation, it is important to adhere to several rules, and the main one is regularity. Zinc will reduce the amount of sebum secreted and make the dermis more elastic. The inflammation goes away quickly. At the same time, the medicine prevents the formation of new pimples.
To achieve maximum effect, it is recommended to use zinc ointment in combination with products that contain erythromycin.
Actions provided
Zinc ointment helps against acne, according to users, due to the range of actions it has on the skin:
- eliminates inflammatory processes;
- dries;
- has a disinfecting effect;
- reduces pus secretion and irritation.
The antiseptic property of the oxide is not strong enough to suppress the development of bacteria that cause acne, which is why the instructions do not include such a disease in the list of indications.
When the substance is applied to an open abscess, it covers it with a film (has an astringent effect) and protects the wound from the penetration of microbes - this action is the anti-inflammatory property of the medication.
Zinc oxide is a powder substance with adsorbent properties, so it is able to absorb toxins produced during the life of bacteria and thus have a drying effect.
The Vaseline in the composition is responsible for ensuring that the resulting film remains on the wound for a long time.
How does the ointment work?
Please note that when using zinc ointment as an anti-wrinkle product, it must be combined with some other moisturizer. This is explained by the fact that zinc ointment can dry out the skin, loss of moisture will occur, which will not lead to the elimination of wrinkles, but, on the contrary, to the appearance of new ones. Therefore, it is recommended to supplement the ointment with baby cream or vitamin E.
If zinc ointment is used to combat wrinkles, then you need to pay attention to several nuances:
- The basis of the product is Vaseline. Therefore, after application, it creates a special protective film on the skin that retains moisture. But there is one drawback: Vaseline is poorly absorbed, which means the skin will have an oily appearance for a long time. Therefore, it is best to use the ointment before going to bed.
- Zinc ointment is applied exclusively to cleansed skin.
- After applying the ointment, you should not apply cosmetics to the skin.
- The ointment has excellent protective functions against sunlight.
- Regular use of the ointment leads to a gradual smoothing of wrinkles.
- The ointment is also used as a bleaching agent (for age spots).
Methods of application
Before using zinc ointment for acne, problem areas of the skin should be prepared by treating them with an antiseptic such as Chlorhexidine , which has also been used for acne. Another tip (according to reviews) is to wash with tar soap before applying the product.
Zinc ointment, instructions for use for acne:
- The product is applied to the entire affected surface in a thin layer or spotwise for a small amount of acne.
- You cannot distribute the drug with massaging movements, since in the presence of pustular rashes, you can aggravate the situation and contribute to the spread of the inflammatory process into the deeper layers of the dermis and into neighboring healthy areas, i.e. both vertically and horizontally.
- The medicine should be used at least 2-3 times a day, the maximum allowed is 6 times a day.
- The holding time is half an hour. Then you should blot the treated areas with a cotton pad and rinse off the residue with warm water.
Some users leave the oxide on overnight due to the inability to apply it during the day. Another tip from reviews is that in order to quickly wash off the greasy substance in the morning, you should first lubricate your face with vegetable oil and then wash your face using your usual foam or gel.
Zinc ointment for acne on the face, which is used using the methods described above, will help cope with the manifestations of acne in the form of slight redness and inflammation. It will dry out the opened abscess and disinfect it, but the product does not eliminate the main causes of acne. It is more effective for single acne that occurs from time to time.
Contraindications and precautions
Zinc ointment is well tolerated by the majority of people. Redness, burning and tingling may occur in patients with hypersensitivity of the skin to the active substance of the drug or in the presence of allergies. In this case, to eliminate side effects, you should stop using the ointment or consult a dermatologist or cosmetologist.
Pharmacists have not identified any cases of negative interaction of zinc oxide with other drugs.
Read the instructions carefully before using zinc ointment; Do not use the product if you have an allergic reaction to one of the components included in the composition.
The ointment is contraindicated in the treatment of bacterial and fungal skin infections and in the presence of pustular wounds.
Use with caution when treating children under 2 years of age, pregnant and lactating women.
Flaws
A zinc-based preparation is 90% petroleum jelly, so when using zinc ointment for acne, you need to be prepared for the fact that it will cover the skin with a thick, airtight film. This white, greasy layer is extremely difficult to wash off with water.
The drug is also resistant to gels and facial washes. In this case, you can use tar soap, which will not only wash away the product, but will also produce an additional therapeutic effect.
A significant disadvantage of this dosage form is the prohibition on the use of cosmetics during treatment. Women and girls often cannot refuse foundation. In this case this is excluded. You can only use the medication while at home.
Before using a zinc-based product, you should decide on your skin type. The drug is not suitable for those with dry epidermis, as it dries out the skin greatly.
Reviews about the product
Advantages: cheap, effective Disadvantages: the ointment cannot be washed off with plain water, it can dry out the skin if you apply it all over your face. I have problem skin. Severe rashes on the face began for 12-13 years. Now I’m 28 and still have the skin of a teenager, although previously I had acne on my face, but now I’m trying to get rid of acne. When I was in high school, kind people advised me to use salicylic-zinc ointment. It turned out to be a godsend for me and I have been successfully using it for more than 10 years.
ila3
https://otzovik.com/review_1686438.html
Advantages: Low price, available in any pharmacy, high-quality effect Disadvantages: None This paste is a kind of small miracle that is always in the home medicine cabinet. If some uninvited guest suddenly appears on the skin, for example a pimple or a small wound, or a chapped lip, then only this paste will come to the rescue. It promotes healing faster than any other remedy I have tried. This happens due to the fact that when applied to a damaged area or pimple, it quickly dries it out and it heals itself, and does not begin to grow, as is usually the case. My wife constantly uses it for cosmetic purposes. As soon as you notice some redness on your face, you immediately apply the paste and it will soon disappear. This little life-saving remedy costs only 18 rubles and can be found in any pharmacy. It is sold without a doctor's prescription. It lasts for a long time, since there is no need to apply a large amount of paste or rub it in. The shelf life is also decent.
Denis2013
https://otzovik.com/review_719755.html
Advantages: price; dries out acne; relieves inflammation; Disadvantages: not found; I first learned about salicylic-zinc paste (Lassara paste) as a remedy against acne. Due to the fact that rashes often appear on the skin, I became interested in this product. The first time I applied it to a newly inflamed area of skin. AND OH A MIRACLE. In the morning, the inflammation decreased significantly and a pimple did not develop. Since I was unable to cure the problem of acne and pimples from the inside, I began to fight it from the outside. I know that in this way I will not remove the very reason for the appearance of pimples and blackheads, but if you apply Lassara paste to the inflamed area of the skin in time, the pimple will not linger for long and there will be no wound left on the skin. Also, if you have frequent acne breakouts, you can use this paste regularly at night. I directly apply it all over my face, after cleansing the skin, and rinse thoroughly. The face becomes so bright, in the morning it looks very fresh, and the skin is smooth, like a baby’s.
4mtv
Opinion against
Zinc ointment for acne, the use of which in dermatology is disputed, is not used as a monotherapy. This is explained by its low activity against bacteria that have penetrated the ducts of the sebaceous glands and caused acne and inflammation. Nevertheless, zinc is included in suspensions, mash and pastes, where, along with other active substances, it shows the best results.
To understand whether Zinc ointment helps with acne, you should remember the reasons for their appearance, namely:
- excessive sebum secretion;
- hyperkeratosis (thickening and proliferation of cells in the inner layer of the ducts of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles);
- acne bacteria;
- inflammation.
For acne to appear, all 4 factors must work. Sebum mixes with dead cells and forms a viscous mass that clogs the ducts of the sebaceous glands like a plug. Such an environment becomes very attractive for acne bacteria, which rush into these areas and, as a result of the body’s reaction to their vital activity, inflammation occurs - acne appears.
Hair follicles, where the ducts of the sebaceous glands exit, lie at an average depth of 2-4 mm. Zinc oxide is insoluble in water, which means it cannot decompose into ions that can penetrate deep into the skin, enter the area of inflammation and somehow affect hypersecretion and hyperkeratosis. This can only be done by zinc compounds based on hyaluronate, acetate dihydrate and sulfate, which are dissolved in various solvents. These compounds are included in such drugs as Curiosin, Klin AK and Zinerit, which have proven themselves quite well against acne.
If large areas of skin are affected by acne, all of them should be covered with the drug. In this case, zinc ointment for acne can have a completely opposite effect. Zinc dries, but the sebaceous glands perceive excessive dryness as a danger to the skin and begin to produce even more secretion to moisturize it, which provokes a worsening of the situation.
The product also does not have a detrimental effect on bacteria - one of the main links in the appearance of acne. It creates unfavorable living conditions for them on the surface of the skin, but cannot affect the living conditions in the formed comedones (plugs).
Can ointment be applied to the area around the eyes?
The skin around the eyes is very thin and delicate. Many cosmetic products for the face cannot be applied to the skin around the eyes, since creams based on oils and fluids are specially developed for it.
Zinc ointment can be used against wrinkles near the outer corner of the eye. They are called "crow's feet". The ointment is driven into the area of wrinkles using fingertips using driving movements. Can be used as a base for makeup, that is, apply foundation on top.
Post-acne therapy
No matter how effective the treatment is, acne always leaves traces. These may be pigmented spots or scarring of the skin. Good results from acne marks are demonstrated by two components together - salicylic acid and zinc oxide in the form of a paste. This is a combination drug in which zinc oxide dries, and salicylic acid acts as an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory component and keratolytic. Acid with a keratolytic effect softens the epidermis, causing it to peel.
Along with the horny scales, microorganisms are also partially removed from the surface of the skin. Therefore, the combination remedy is more useful for acne spots than for treating acne directly.
What are age spot products?
Zinc ointment is a universal medicine and cosmetology product with a wide spectrum of action that has no contraindications or side effects.
Modern cosmetic products include many different additives, often containing hormones. In contrast, the composition of zinc ointment is simple and effective. A mixture of zinc oxide and petroleum jelly in a ratio of 1:10 is a white suspension with a thick consistency, produced in 20-30 g tubes or jars.
Pharmaceutical companies can add other useful components to the product that enhance the effect of the main substance. Among the ingredients that make up zinc ointment (except zinc and petroleum jelly), you can see:
- menthol, which gives a specific smell and cools the skin;
- lanolin and dimethicone, which prevent allergies and soften the epidermis;
- fish oil containing polyunsaturated fatty acids, retinol, vitamin D;
- parabens, which have antibacterial and antifungal effects.
Analogs include zinc paste and salicylic-zinc ointment.
Zinc paste , the main active ingredient of which is also zinc oxide with the addition of petroleum jelly and starch, differs from the ointment in the percentage of its constituent components and density - the ratio is 1 to 25.
Salicylic-zinc ointment/paste (Lassar ointment), which is a homogeneous dense substance of white-yellow or light gray color, containing zinc oxide, salicylic acid, potato starch, and petroleum jelly, is also effective in the fight against pigmentation Its gentler effect on the skin allows it to be used by pregnant women, but only after consulting a doctor.
Medicines containing zinc oxide represent a group of adsorbents with astringent and protective properties that have a drying effect.
