ichthammol

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ichthammol

[ik´tham-ol]

an ammoniated coal tar product, used in ointment form for certain skin diseases.

ich·tham·mol

(ik'tham-mol),

A viscous fluid, reddish brown to brownish black, with a strong, characteristic, empyreumatic odor, soluble in water and in glycerin; obtained by the destructive distillation of certain bituminous schists, sulfonating the distillate and neutralizing the product with ammonia. It is used in skin disorders; its beneficial effect is due to its mild irritant, stimulant, antiseptic, and analgesic action; used in 10-20% concentrations in an ointment ("drawing salve").

Synonym(s): ammonium ichthosulfonate

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

References in periodicals archive ?

(10) Glycerin and ichthammol, a compound used for many years by otolaryngologists to treat otitis externa, was also found to be acidic.

The pH of commonly used topical ear drops in the treatment of otitis externa

COUNTRYSIDE: Try Ichthammol Salve (ointment/dressing)

Drawing salve recipe

Current orthodox medical treatment includes topical applications of corticosteroidal creams, salicylic acid/urea preparations, glycerol, paraffin, coal tar and/or ichthammol to ease the symptoms; and oral ingestion of immunomodifiers (cyclosporins) and antimetabolites (methotrexate).