The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-22

mated mercury for pus infections
Of the skin like acne or impetigo
or hair follicle or shaving infec-
tons; meHthoid'cd or camphordt-
cd ointments for hives and chap
ping and sunburn; sulfd ointmcnts
for infections; and to get away
from olntments tiHc'ure of iodine
or mercrochrome for cuts and
bruises.
When these don't work and you
20 TO the expert dcrmatologist you
will find him depending more on
H-ray, radium, electrolysis, dia-
thermy, drugs by vein and vac
clnes. It's natural for him to use
these more complicated methods
because he probably knows you
have already been using the stand
ard local remedies at home. And
here is point to cmphasize-if he
gives you a medicine for local APP
phcation it will likely be in the
form Of lotion, that is watery
or liquid suspension rather than
an ointment.
Now all Of these remedies are
good. For household use the medl-
cine closet should certainly con-
tain a zinc oxide preparation for
soothing and ammoniated mer-
curry for pus conditions and iodine
for cuts and infections, and per-
haps camphor ice. But there are
a good many times when the
household dermatologist needs to
be restrained in their use and
there are lot Of things not to do
for skin diseases that he doesn't
always remember.
One is that very tendency noted
above to stick to olntments rather
than lotions. An ointment gums
over the surface Of a skin erup-
ton, keeps the air out and the Sc
cretions in and often adds to the
damage. A lotion can be dabbed
on and will stay in place Just as
well as the ointment, besides lets
the skin breathe and draws secre-
lions to the surface where they can
be wiped off. Zinc oxide in an oint-
ment doesn't get to exert its effect
as well as calomine in lotion, and
the action Of the calomine is just
about the same as zinc oxide. Oint-
ments are all right in their place,
but that place is not wholesale
and universal use.
A tendency of anyone treating
the skin, and this includes many
doctors, Is to overtreat, either by
treating with applications that are
too strong or using them too much.
This is particularly true Of poison
ivy or any similar acute dermati-
It's from contact that Is in an
angry, infamed condition. Here
some Of the indictments applied
may add to the inflammation and
make things worse. Ointments on
these conditions do no good be-
cause the ointment never gets in
contact with the trouble, since the
serum which is constantly oozing
out pushes 1t away. A mild wet
dressing Of half Of one per cent Of
aluminium subacetate is most like
~ to do good.
Use Of. Wet Dressings
A wet dressing should keep the
part wet. If when the dressing is
removed it is stuck to the skin it
has obviously not been wet enough.
A good wet dressing that holds
moisture is oatmeal and bicarbo-
nate Of soda. But an opposite dan
ger Of wet dressings. is that they
are allowed to waterlog the skin.
Sulfa ointments should never be
used except under medical advice.
They are very likely to sensitize
skin and make any eruption worse.
! Just saw peculiar eXaNple Of
this. A detail man who Foes TO
doctors to demonstrate new prep
arations was in the habit Of show
ing how a sulfa ointment could be
completely absorbed in the skin.
He would take out little jar Of
1t and rub it on the back Of his
hand. After doing this few weeks
he developed a peach Of a derma-
tits that took few weeks to cure.
- A sore skin is sensitive to drugs.
The basic rule Of treatment is
don't DO anything TO make 1t
worse.
49,. = H.. - -, 80 l,,,,,.,-