Whitfield’s ointment

White pine White rust White s agar White Shoulders White smoke Whitewares Whitewash White water Whitfield s Ointment... 

Older Compounds. Some antimycotics have been used for a long time Whitfield s ointment is a typical example (1907). The ointment usually contains 6% ben2oic acid [65-85-0] and 3% sahcyhc acid [69-72-7] C H O. The action is attributed to the keratolytic effect of the sahcyhc acid... 

In medicine, the internal uses of benzoic acid are relatively unimportant. Its principal medicinal use is external it is used in dermatology as an antiseptic stimulant and irritant. Combined with salicyLic acid [69-72-7] benzoic acid is employed in the treatment of ringworm of the scalp and other skin diseases (Whitfield s ointment). 

Benzoic acid has got antifungal and anti-bacterial activity and used in combination with salicylic acid (Whitfield s ointment). Salicylic acid by its keratolytic action helps to remove the infected tissue and promotes the penetration of benzoic acid into the lesion. 

Salicylic acid [69-72-7] - [SALICYLIC ACID AND RELATED COMPOUNDS] pol 21) - [COSMETICS] pol 7) - pENTAL MATERIALS] pol 7) -acetic acid from acetylation of [ACETIC ACID AND DERIVATIVES - ACETIC ACID] pol 1) -acetylation of [ACETIC ACID AND DERIVATIVES - ANHYDRIDE] pol 1) -m antiacne products [COSMETICS] Pol 7) -as antidandruff agent [COSMETICS] Pol 7) -as dye primary pYES AND DYE INTERMEDIATES] pol 8) -as rubber chemical pUBBER CHEMICALS] pol 21) -synthesis of [MICROBIALTRANSFORMATIONS] pol 16) -use as disinfectants piSINFECTANTS AND ANTISEPTICS] pol 8) -m Whitfield s ointment [ANTIPARASITIC AGENTS - ANTIMYCOTICS] pol3)... 

Benzoic and salicylic acid ointment is known as Whitfield s ointment. It combines the fungistatic action of benzoate with the keratolytic action of salicylate. It contains benzoic acid and salicylic acid in a ratio of 2 1 (usually 6% 3%). It is used mainly in the treatment of tinea pedis. 

Longstanding remedies such as Compound Benzoic Acid Ointment (Whitfield s ointment) are still acceptable for iruld infections but a topical imidazole (clotrimazole, econazole, miconazole, sulconazole), which is also effective against Candida, is now usually preferred. Tioconazole is effective topically for nail infections. If multiple areas are affected, especially if the scalp or nails are included, and if topical therapy fails, oral itraconazole or terbinafine are used. Griseofulvin has largely been superseded for these indications. 

Whitfield s ointment, used for Trichophyton rubrum, has a keratolytic effect, and local irritation can occur (SED-12, 685) (35). 

Benzoic acid also has a long history of use as an antifungal agent in topical therapeutic preparations such as Whitfield s ointment (benzoic acid 6% and salicylic acid 3%). 

Benzoic Acid. Bcn/oic acid possesses appreciable antifungal effects, but it cannot penetrate the outer layer of the skin in infected areas. Therefore, benzoic acid when u.sed as an antifungal agent must be admixed with a kcratolytic agent. Suitable mixtures arc benzoic acid and. salicylic acid and benzoic acid and resorcinol. An old preparation that is. still in u.se is Whitfield s Ointment. USP. litis ointment contains benzoic acid. 6%, and. salicylic acid, 6%, in a petrolatum base. The cure rates from preparations like thc.se are low. 

Salicylic acid alone has little or no antifungal activity but it facilitates the penetration of other drugs into the epidermis. Preparations for athlete s foot containing salicylic acid therefore also contain antifungal constituents it is present in Whitfield s ointment and some proprietary preparations. 

It is prepared as Whitfield s ointment and available as a pharmacy medicine. 

There are a number of nonspecific topical drugs, some some of which have been in use for most of this century. Early therapy of superficial mycoses utilized topical fungicides such as salicylic acid, salicylanilide, iodine tincture, and even weak fungistatic compounds such as benzoic acid. Salicylic acid is mainly a keratolytic agent that also removes the softened, loosened infected epithelial layers. In combination with benzoic acid (Whitfield s ointment), it has been a useful product for years. 

These are resinous mixtures that contain cinnamic and/or benzoic acid or their esters. Benzoin is a balsamic resin derived from the bark of Styrax benzoin (Styraceae) trees in Southeast Asia. Benzoin contains cinnamic, benzoic and triterpene acids. Its action is antiseptic, stimulant, expectorant, diuretic and antifungal. It is used as a food preservative and also as an ingredient in pharmaceutical preparations such as Whitfield s Ointment (with salicylic acid) for ringworm and athlete s foot (Tyler et al. 1988). 

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