Zinc oxide ointment is the number one dermatological treatment, and its main ingredient, zinc oxide, has been used since ancient Egypt to aid in wound healing, as documented in the Ebers Papyrus of 1550 BC. A variety of creams, ointments, dressings, and sunscreens for dermatitis, wounds, ulcers, and other skin problems are currently on the market with zinc oxide as the main ingredient. A number of companies that manufacture baby products, such as Johnson & Johnson and Mythril, also produce ointments with zinc oxide as the main ingredient and sell them as baby buttocks creams or diaper ointments. Recently, sudocrem, a compound zinc oxide cream produced in the UK, has become a hit on the internet and is considered by users to be able to “remove blackheads and pimples” and is even used to “make masks”. What is zinc oxide ointment? What exactly is it good for? When is it suitable for use and what to avoid? 1. What is zinc oxide? Zinc is an important component of metalloenzymes, regulatory proteins and biofilms in living organisms, and is one of the essential trace elements in the human body. The epidermis in the skin contains about 6 times more zinc than the deeper skin tissues due to its faster turnover, and patients with zinc deficiency have slower wound healing than normal. Zinc oxide, an oxide of zinc, is a very stable white powder, insoluble in water, with the ability to adsorb oil and water, and acts mainly as an astringent, drying and antibacterial agent in topical skin medications. It has been found that topical zinc oxide exerts a pro-wound healing effect by modulating multiple aspects of epidermal wound healing (e.g. inflammation, fibrous proliferation and tissue remodeling), and this effect is thought to be associated with a slow, small and sustained release of zinc ions into the wound. Its efficacy in accelerating wound healing is comparable to that of some expensive enzyme-based drugs. Zinc oxide also inhibits skin damage from Staphylococcus aureus and Candida. Zinc oxide is impervious to light and has not only a covering effect, but also reflects ultraviolet rays including UVA and UVB rays and is therefore often used in cosmetics for sun protection and concealer. Zinc oxide mixed with an ointment base is known as zinc oxide ointment or zinc paste, and is one of the most commonly used medications in dermatology. Due to its stable, non-toxic, water-insoluble nature and its preventive and adjunctive therapeutic effects on a number of skin conditions, zinc oxide is also added to a variety of everyday products including white gels, antibacterial sanitary napkins, diapers, etc. 2. What is the difference between zinc oxide ointment and sunscreens and lotions containing zinc oxide? In the traditional formulation process, if the base is composed of water-free oil, it is called “ointment” or “ointment” (English oment, German salbe), which has a strong sealing and isolating effect and can promote the absorption of the active ingredients. This preparation has a strong sealing and barrier effect, which promotes the absorption of the active ingredient. It not only prevents the evaporation of moisture from the skin, but also prevents the entry of external moisture. Commonly used such as zinc oxide ointment, cooling oil. Some products contain a certain amount of water in the matrix (used to dissolve certain ingredients or improve the texture of the product), but water and oil are not mutually soluble, which requires the help of emulsifiers, emulsifiers can make water and oil wrapped around each other and stable presence. If the product is in the form of water-in-oil, it is called “dew” or “lotion” (lotion), and this matrix tends to be more fluid. Since it usually contains less oil, the moisturizing effect is weak, and it mainly serves as a moisturizer, such as various moisturizing lotions or sunscreen lotions. If the product is in the form of water-in-oil, it is called “cream” or “cream” (cream), which tends to be a slightly thicker base in which lipid components form a protective film on the skin surface and have a stronger moisturizing effect, such as various moisturizing creams or snow creams. If the ointment contains a lot of solid ingredients, it is called “paste” (paste), but has the role of moisture absorption, astringent, such as the treatment of acute dermatitis borax paste. Of course, with the development of technology there are many other bases, such as water-in-oil-in-water, water-soluble ointment, gel (Gel), etc.. Thus, from the name we know that zinc oxide ointment is a topical medication with zinc oxide as the main active ingredient, in an oil base, without water. Since zinc oxide is not soluble in water or other matrices, it is non-irritating and well tolerated, and the ointment base has some isolation and moisturizing effects, so the FDA classifies zinc oxide ointment as a “skin protectant”. In other words, it can be used as an adjunct to protect the skin and promote healing in cases of localized skin damage, as long as there are no large exposed wounds or exudates or blisters. However, since zinc oxide ointment does not have a specific therapeutic effect on a particular skin disease, if you have a serious skin disease, you should still seek medical advice and use the right medication. 3. Under what circumstances is zinc oxide ointment suitable for use? From the above analysis, we know that zinc oxide ointment has a moisture barrier and a mild astringent and antibacterial effect. It is stable, almost non-irritating, not easily decomposed, insoluble in water and hardly absorbed by the skin, so there are no contraindications for infants, pregnant women and the elderly. Diaper dermatitis (also known as diaper rash or red buttocks) is a localized allergic or inflammatory skin reaction that occurs in infants due to their thin and tender skin, which is stimulated by urine, feces or secretion impregnation and fabrics, and is very common in infants. Treatment options are limited due to the lack of data supporting the safety of many topical medications for infants. Zinc oxide ointment is used as a primary ingredient in most brands of diaper ointment because of its ability to provide just the right amount of insulation from moisture and irritants, astringency of the skin, and promotion of healing in babies with diaper dermatitis, and its therapeutic and preventive effects on diaper dermatitis. Not only limited to children, zinc oxide ointment has a wide range of uses for adult skin problems as well. For example, erythema and pruritus (interscalene or macerated dermatitis) in the anterior neck, axillae, and groin areas due to sweating and friction, contact dermatitis due to plants, subacute eczema, solar dermatitis, minor burns, insect bites, frostbite, small wounds that do not heal for long periods of time, and post-laser treatment care are all areas where zinc oxide ointment can be used with ease. Topical zinc oxide ointment has also been shown to help heal diabetes-related lower extremity ulcers and pressure ulcers (also known as pressure ulcers, which are more common in middle-aged and elderly people who are bedridden). With such a wide range of indications, zinc oxide ointment has earned the title of “cure-all” and is a must-have medicine for home travel. 4. When should I avoid using zinc oxide ointment? Since ointments and creams have a sealing effect, zinc oxide ointment should be avoided in acute eczema with large exudate, large ulcers, vesicles, blisters, macules and other lesions with traumatic exudate. Although zinc oxide ointment is a skin protectant and theoretically can be used as a barrier moisturizer for normal skin, it is not recommended for long-term, large-area use in patients with atopic dermatitis, chronic eczema, pruritus of the elderly, psoriasis vulgaris, etc., where dry skin is the basis for the development of the skin, because of the hygroscopic and astringent effects of zinc oxide particles. (when combined with acute flare-ups or minor exudates, it can be used for a short period of time until the lesions heal or stabilize). In these patients, it is advisable to use moisturizers that are similar to the physiological lipid composition of the skin. Recently, some friends on the Internet and WeChat said that you can use sudocrem, a cream or ointment with zinc oxide as the main active ingredient, as a mask to remove blackheads and pimples and to whiten the skin, but this method of use is not very beneficial to the skin. Since the ointment base has a strong adhesion ability and is not easy to clean, the zinc oxide particles rub against the skin surface when the cream is removed, producing a physical exfoliating effect that makes the skin look more delicate. The zinc oxide particles that remain on the skin’s surface have an antibacterial and “concealing” effect, making the blackheads and pimples appear less visible. However, zinc oxide ointment does not improve the underlying cause of acne, hyperkeratosis of the follicular sebaceous ducts, and the sealing effect of the cream and the clogging of zinc oxide particles can exacerbate skin problems such as closed pimples (even when not applied very thickly). In addition, some excipients contained in the preparation may also cause adverse reactions such as skin irritation due to increased transdermal absorption under the thick cream encapsulation. Therefore, topical treatment with retinoids as the cornerstone of acne is preferred for acne patients to improve keratinization and inhibit excessive oil production, while avoiding this zinc oxide “mask” as much as possible. Conclusion: Baby butt creams such as sudocrem are named for their barrier, astringent, and healing effects as well as their excellent safety profile for use on baby butts. Although this all-purpose remedy is versatile and a must in your medicine cabinet, it does not mean that the adult face will be as white as a baby’s butt if you use it. When using it, care must be taken to avoid large open wounds or lesions with heavy oozing, and long-term use is not advisable for acne patients with mainly pimples. Proper use of zinc oxide ointment can be a convenient solution to many minor skin problems, but incorrect or excessive use can also bring new problems to the skin.