Oxolinic ointment for papillomas
The content of the article:
- Composition
- Release form
- Mechanism of action
- Indications
- How to apply
- Side effects and contraindications
- Doctor's view
- What are papillomas
- Are papillomas dangerous?
- Treatment
- Video
Oxolinic ointment for papillomas is quite popular among residents of the CIS countries. Let's consider whether this drug is really an effective remedy in the treatment of viral skin diseases and how justified is its use.
Oxolinic ointment is a popular antiviral agent, but its effectiveness has not been proven
Let's consider the properties of the drug in more detail.
Composition
The main active ingredient of the ointment is oxolin (naphthalene-1,2,3,4-tetron). Vaseline oil and petroleum jelly are used as auxiliary substances.
Release form
Oxolinic ointment is available in two forms:
- with a content of 0.25% oxolin - intended for application to mucous membranes;
- with a content of 3% oxolin - it should be used for application to altered skin areas.
Mechanism of action
The instructions for use indicate that oxolin has antiviral properties. It blocks the entry points of viral particles in cell membranes, thereby preventing them from entering the cells.
According to the developers, the drug is effective against:
- influenza viruses;
- adenoviruses;
- herpes virus;
- human papillomavirus.
When applied to the skin, 5% of the active substance is absorbed, and when applied to mucous membranes - 3%.
In the human body, oxolin does not accumulate, a small amount of it that gets inside when using the ointment is excreted mainly by the kidneys during the day from the moment of application.
Application of the drug to intact skin and mucous membranes does not have a local irritating and toxic resorptive effect.
Indications
Indications for the use of Oxolinic ointment are:
- prevention and treatment of influenza;
- prevention and treatment of adenovirus infection;
- treatment of a number of dermatological diseases of viral etiology (molluscum contagiosum, papillomas, shingles, herpetic dermatitis).
How to apply
Depending on the purpose of the therapy, Oxolinic ointment can be used in different ways:
| Indication | How to apply |
| Prevention and treatment of influenza, ARVI | Before using the ointment, it is advisable to rinse the nose with saline sodium chloride solution or boiled water. The ointment is applied with a cotton swab 2-3 times a day in a thin layer. |
| Treatment of herpetic dermatitis, herpes zoster | 5-6 times a day, lubricate the elements of skin rashes. Therapy continues until the complete completion of epithelialization. |
| Treatment of warts and genital warts | The ointment should be applied to the surface of the neoplasm 2-3 times a day, after rubbing it slightly with a soft washcloth. The course of treatment lasts from 15 to 60 days. |
Side effects and contraindications
The only contraindication to the use of Oxolinic ointment is individual intolerance to the main active ingredient, that is, to oxolin.
If the agent is applied to areas of the skin or mucous membranes with impaired integrity, the patient may experience symptoms of local tissue irritation (swelling, burning, redness, itching).
Considering that oxolin does not accumulate in the body and is excreted by the kidneys outside during the day, the ointment can be used in pediatric practice, as well as used by pregnant and lactating women. The drug can be prescribed to persons whose work requires increased concentration of attention, for example, motor vehicle drivers, dispatchers.
Doctor's view
Oxolinic ointment was registered as a drug for the fight against a number of viral diseases in 1970. However, until now, the drug is used only in Russia and the post-Soviet countries. He did not receive distribution abroad.
It is not recommended to try to get rid of papillomas on your own with the help of Oxolinic ointment and because of the possible malignancy of the neoplasm. Human papillomaviruses have oncogenic properties, and at first glance, a completely harmless wart can transform into a malignant tumor. This is largely facilitated by attempts at self-treatment, accompanied by injury to the surface of skin growths.
When papillomas appear on the skin or mucous membranes, a person is advised to seek medical help from a dermatologist or oncologist. The doctor will conduct the necessary examination and recommend the most optimal way to remove the formation in each case. The following methods are most commonly used in clinical practice:
- electrocoagulation;
- laser removal;
- radio knife;
- cryosurgery;
- traditional removal with a scalpel.
The patient must be prescribed a course of treatment with modern antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs with proven efficacy, which helps to significantly reduce the risk of relapse of the disease.
What are papillomas
Papillomas (warts) are benign neoplasms originating from epithelial cells of the skin or mucous membranes. Warts localized on the mucous membranes of the genital organs are called condylomas.
Infection of the human body with the human papillomavirus (HPV) leads to the occurrence of papillomas. The source of infection is virus carriers and sick people.
The virus enters the body through any damage to the skin or mucous membranes and infects epithelial cells. For a long time, he is in them, without causing clinical manifestations of the disease.
With a weakening of immunity, HPV begins to multiply actively. The accumulation of a sufficiently large number of viral copies in infected cells is accompanied by an acceleration of mitosis, which becomes the cause of the growths on the skin and mucous membranes.
Are papillomas dangerous?
More than 100 strains of human papillomaviruses have been described. Some of them are highly oncogenic, that is, they are capable of provoking the development of a malignant tumor. Therefore, when epithelial outgrowths are formed, the patient should definitely consult a doctor and undergo the necessary examination.
Treatment of papillomas should be prescribed by a doctor
As with any benign tumor, papillomas can eventually transform into a malignant tumor. The following factors can provoke this:
- exposure to ultraviolet radiation;
- permanent injury to the neoplasm.
In addition, warts located on open parts of the body give patients significant cosmetological discomfort, and condylomas can cause psychological problems in the intimate sphere of life.
Treatment
Treatment of papillomas is complex. It consists not only in the removal of skin growths, but also in the use of immunomodulating and antiviral drugs, one of the latter being Oxolinic ointment.
Video
We offer for viewing a video on the topic of the article.
Elena Minkina Doctor anesthesiologist-resuscitator About the author
Education: graduated from the Tashkent State Medical Institute, specializing in general medicine in 1991. Repeatedly passed refresher courses.
Work experience: anesthesiologist-resuscitator of the city maternity complex, resuscitator of the hemodialysis department.
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