Preparations based on zinc oxide are in great demand in the practice of dermatologists. Many domestic pharmaceutical companies offer inexpensive products with such an active substance. One of these medicines is called "Zinc Ointment", the other - "Zinc Paste". Both drugs are used for external treatment for the same diseases, but have some differences.
Release form
"Zinc ointment" is sold in glass jars, polymer bottles or tubes of 25, 30, 50 or 100 grams in one package. This medicine is a thick, soft mass. It is uniform, light yellow or white in color. The ointment is easy to apply to the skin and can penetrate into its thickness, which will help with chronic inflammatory processes.
"Zinc paste" is also presented in pharmacies in tubes and cans, and one package contains 25, 30 or 40 grams of medication. Such a preparation is thicker due to the presence of powdery components in the composition, which not only affects the consistency, but also slows down the absorption of the active substance into the skin. For this reason, the paste is used more often in acute processes, when the permeability of the vessels and epidermis is increased, as well as in situations where the skin needs to be dried.
Composition
The main ingredient in both drugs is zinc oxide, but the concentration is different. In the ointment, it is only 10%, that is, each gram of such a drug contains 100 mg of zinc oxide. The concentration in the paste is higher and is 25%, which corresponds to the amount of 25 g in 100 grams of such a drug. An auxiliary ingredient of the ointment is petroleum jelly, which contains 90% in the preparation. As for "Zinc paste", it also contains petroleum jelly, but its content is only 50%, and 25% of this medication is potato starch. There are no other chemical compounds in these drugs.
Operating principle
The preparations with zinc oxide applied to the skin dry well, due to which weeping and exudation are reduced. This helps to eliminate local manifestations of skin irritation and inflammation. The ointment has a good astringent effect, and the paste, due to the larger volume of powdery components, has adsorbing properties, absorbing toxic products from the affected skin.
Both forms have some disinfecting effect, which is used for bacterial skin infections. It is due to the fact that metal ions negatively affect protein molecules in microbial cells and this causes the death of microorganisms. However, this action is not very pronounced, therefore strong infectious process "Zinc paste" or "Zinc ointment" cannot be eliminated.
Due to the ability to form a protective coating on the treated skin, which provides a petrolatum base, such agents are also used to prevent irritation or damage to the skin, for example, in infants during a diaper change, to protect the delicate skin of an infant from the influence of natural secretions.
Indications
Both drugs are prescribed for:
- prickly heat;
- dermatitis, including atopic;
- Diaper rash;
- diaper rash;
- scratches and other superficial wounds;
- exacerbation of eczema;
- streptoderma;
- sores on the skin;
- burns;
- herpes simplex;
- lichen;
- bedsores;
- trophic ulcers.
The drugs are also in demand as prevention of diaper dermatitis or the addition of a secondary infection with chickenpox. Ointment or paste is used to treat the baby's skin when changing diapers or diapers, and with chickenpox, such agents are applied to the bubbles so that they dry out faster and do not fester after opening.
At what age is it prescribed?
Both the paste and the ointment can be used in children of any age, including newborn babies and infants in the first months of life. Such drugs act only at the site of application, without exerting any harmful effect on the child's body. This also means there is no risk of overdose.
Contraindications
Both drugs should not be used only if you are hypersensitive to zinc oxide. There are no other contraindications for such medications.
Side effects
Sometimes after lubricating the skin with "Zinc Ointment" or "Zinc Paste", redness or itching occurs. In rare cases, a rash appears on the treated skin, which indicates an allergic reaction to such medications and requires their withdrawal.
Instructions for use
An ointment or paste is applied to the affected skin in the dosage prescribed by the doctor, since it is different for different indications and for different dosage forms. Treatment with "Zinc paste" is usually carried out 2 to 4 times a day, and if the child has a purulent infection, then first the skin should be lubricated with an antiseptic. It is recommended to apply "Zinc Ointment" 2-3 times a day, but sometimes more frequent treatment is required - 4-6 times a day.
How to use in babies?
"Zinc paste", like "Zinc ointment", is often used in infants both for the treatment of diaper rash and for their prevention. Many doctors recommend including such medicines in the home medicine cabinet while waiting for the baby. The skin of babies has a more delicate surface, which can be damaged by contact with sweat, feces or urine, for example, if the mother hesitated a little and did not have time to change the diaper.
Even with a small amount of redness, the baby will cry, sleep and eat poorly, and if the irritation is strong and erosions appear on the skin, this can even affect the growth and physical development of the baby. Zinc oxide preparations help in such cases, as cover the delicate baby skin with a thin layer and protect against harmful effects.
At the same time, doctors consider "Zinc paste" to be a more preferable option, because it has a stronger drying effect.
It is advised to lubricate the skin of the toddler with the paste twice or three times a day when the diaper is changed. The medicine can be applied both to reddened areas and to absolutely healthy skin (for prophylactic purposes). However, it is undesirable to use such a medication for too long so as not to provoke severe drying of the skin, which is also bad for a small child.
If the crumbs often have diaper rash, and the skin under the diaper becomes inflamed, you should consult a doctor and determine the cause of this phenomenon. It can be triggered by the transition to formula feeding, teething, diaper allergy, the introduction of complementary foods, dysbiosis and other factors.
Terms of sale
Both medicines are over-the-counter medicines and are sold in almost all pharmacies. Their price is influenced by both the manufacturer and the amount of the drug in the package. For example, a tube with 30 g of "Zinc ointment" costs about 40 rubles, and for 25 g of "Zinc paste" you need to pay an average of 55-70 rubles.
Storage conditions
Keep both the ointment and the paste at home in a cool place (the temperature range recommended by most manufacturers is from +8 to +15 degrees, but there is also a recommendation for a temperature of at least +25 degrees), placing the packaging so that it is inaccessible to small children. Most manufacturers have a shelf life of 5 years.
It is unacceptable to use a product with an expired date, as this can lead to the appearance of negative side effects.
Reviews
Almost all reviews of ointments and pastes that contain zinc oxide are positive. The drugs are praised for their effective action, affordable price, availability in all pharmacies and the possibility of using them in children. According to mothers, such medicines quickly help with rashes, skin lesions, redness and other problems, and an allergic reaction is extremely rare. Among the minuses, they sometimes note too thick consistency and inconvenient packaging.
Analogs
Among other products based on zinc oxide, which are prescribed by dermatologists, "Desitin" is very popular. Such a 40% ointment is in demand for contact dermatitis, burns and various skin injuries. It is permissible to use it in infancy, for example, with a diaper rash, sunburn, diathesis or scratches, as well as to prevent irritation from a diaper.
Another well-known analogue of "Zinc Ointment" is a drug called "Tsindol". Its difference is the dosage form, represented by a 12.5% suspension. The medication is used for diaper rash, dermatitis, chickenpox and other skin problems. In addition, for skin diseases, the doctor may recommend combination medications, which include zinc oxide and other active ingredients. It can be a salicylic-zinc paste containing 2% salicylic acid, due to which the anti-inflammatory effect of "Zinc paste" is further enhanced.
It is possible to replace "Zinc paste" and other products that contain zinc oxide with other topical drugs used for various inflammations and skin lesions. Among them in childhood, the following are often prescribed.
- "Sudokrem". This multicomponent medicine can be used from birth. In its composition, benzyl benzoate, lanolin, benzyl cinnamate and benzyl alcohol were added to zinc oxide. The drug is used to accelerate skin healing and reduce inflammation in wounds, burns, dermatitis, bedsores and so on.
- "Bepanten". An ointment or cream with this name acts on the skin thanks to dexpanthenol. They are prescribed at any age for burns, abrasions, diaper rash, prickly heat and other problems, as well as for the prevention of skin irritation.
- "Elidel"... This 1% cream containing pimecrolimus has a strong anti-inflammatory effect and is approved from the age of three months. It is often prescribed for atopic dermatitis.
For more information on the use of zinc ointments and pastes in the treatment of children, see the next video.
