Vaseline oil is a synthetic product obtained during petroleum refining. It is a colorless oily fraction that remains after the distillation of kerosene. Vaseline oil is characterized by a high degree of purification, and, in addition, it does not contain all kinds of impurities and additives that can be harmful to the human body, so it is considered an environmentally friendly product.
Active substance of the drug: liquid paraffin - a wax-like mixture of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons (otherwise - saturated hydrocarbons or alkanes).
In medical practice, the oil is used as a laxative, helping to soften stool, stimulating the motility of the small intestine and facilitating the process of defecation.
The drug is available in the form of an oil intended for oral administration and external use.
Main purpose
The main purpose of petroleum jelly is to use it for problems with stool. The drug, as experts note, has a softening effect and relieves pain. The use of oil for constipation should only be prescribed by a specialist, because it must be taken orally and there may be contraindications. As a result, self-medication may cause more harm.
Vaseline instead of cosmetics and medications: 9 useful ways to use Read more
What is Vaseline oil?
The dosage form of petroleum jelly is obtained by purifying the petroleum fraction from kerosene. The chemical composition consists of a mixture of saturated hydrocarbons. Received the additional name “liquid paraffin”. Mixes well with fats.
Of the oils, it “cannot stand” castor. The combination of these two substances is impossible. The dosage form is colorless, but the industry uses a yellow, less purified version. For medical purposes it is a good basis for various medications.
Able to dissolve with chloroform, ether, gasoline, kerosene and white spirit. But it retains its consistency in water and ethyl alcohol. As a chemical substance, it can form an emulsion (suspension) in isopropyl alcohol. It lasts for several minutes depending on the concentration, after which it begins to separate.
Industrial varieties differ from medicinal ones in their greater density and viscosity. The suspension does not disintegrate for days. To be called a medical product, petroleum jelly must meet the standards of a certain GOST for these indicators.
Baby care
Young mothers are among the first to receive a recommendation from a pediatrician who comes to the house with patronage to use Vaseline oil for baby hygiene. It is usually recommended to collect it on a cotton swab and treat the baby’s nose and ears as a morning procedure. It is believed that this drug helps soften crusts in the nose and moisturizes the sinuses. It is also used to treat the scalp to gently remove seborrheic crusts.
Naturally, it can also be used only on the recommendation of a doctor and in careful doses, without enthusiasm.
Where is it used?
The need to use petroleum jelly is justified for medical and cosmetic purposes by its ability to dissolve injection drugs, cosmetic creams, and ointments. In the production of penicillin, it is used as an antifoam agent.
The protective effect is especially valuable for temple walls made of limestone, and new ones made of silicone bricks
The oil is inexpensive to obtain. Replaces the impregnating material for boards in bathhouses; it is used to prepare a lubricant for machines in the food industry, vacuum devices in fire pumps. Included in building enamels.
Since ancient times, Vaseline oil has been used in church decoration and icon painting, and lamp oil is obtained from it. The fact is that liquid paraffin, when burned, does not form soot on frescoes; it decomposes to carbon dioxide and ordinary water vapor. Oil helps protect antique paintings.
Cosmetology
In cosmetology, petroleum jelly and petroleum jelly in solid form are used extremely actively. Paraffin is used to make various lotions and compresses, for example, to prevent frostbite, to relieve dry lips, etc. It is included in various lip glosses, hygienic lipsticks and other products that are aimed at moisturizing. For example, you can simply take some oil and spread it on your lips.
Question answer
Is it harmful to use Vaseline in winter? Cosmetologists value Vaseline oil for its hypoallergenicity. At the same time, it can be used both as an independent drug and as an additional substance included in certain skin care products.
For example, Vaseline oil is quite widely used for hair care. It is believed that it creates a protective film on the curls that reliably resists UV rays and adverse weather conditions. Oil masks are made on its basis. You just have to take into account that it is quite difficult to wash off such a drug from your hair. You should tune in to this right away and not worry that it doesn’t wash out well.
In its pure form, the product is often used to stimulate eyelash growth. The oil helps restore and strengthen hair by nourishing it and accelerating growth. It is enough to apply it on them with a cotton swab and carefully distribute it over the hairs with a special eyelash comb. It is best to perform this manipulation at night so that the oil does not get into your eyes and interfere with it. In the morning, just wash it off with water.
Use a product to strengthen the nail plates. For example, it can be used to more gently remove the cuticle during a manicure. It is usually recommended to use it once a week. But you can use the product as needed, for example, for dry skin on your fingers.
Pharmacological properties
Vaseline oil was originally created for medical purposes. Health authorities allow its use as a product that has disinfecting properties and can effectively combat pathogenic microorganisms. And since the oil is a weak toxic substance, a small dose taken orally can cause mild poisoning and, as a result, an upset stomach.
When taken orally, petroleum jelly provokes a softening of the intestinal contents, mechanically facilitating its evacuation and the process of defecation itself. This is due to the fact that the drug, entering the intestines, envelops its walls with a thin oily film, which promotes better movement of feces.
The use of petroleum jelly for constipation not only helps soften excessively hard stool, but also stimulates intestinal motility and prevents the formation and accumulation of hard stool in it.
Since the oil is not an organic product, but a synthetically produced product, it is not digested by the body, is not absorbed through the intestinal walls and, accordingly, does not have a negative effect on the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract.
The lack of taste, color and smell of petroleum jelly makes it an indispensable product in prescription practice: it is often used as a basis for the preparation of medical ointments and liniments, all kinds of suspensions of medicinal substances intended for intramuscular injection, as an antifoam in the production of penicillin, and also as a solvent for a number of drugs.
Oil is widely used in cosmetology. This is due to its characteristics such as transparency, environmental friendliness, lack of taste and aroma. Since it has excellent skin compatibility, rarely provokes the development of allergic reactions and prevents the appearance of acne, it is often used as a basis for the preparation of moisturizing and softening cosmetic products: lotions, creams, tanning products, etc. In addition, the use of petrolatum oil is advisable in the production of all kinds of essential oils, antiperspirants, protective creams, bath salts and deodorants (this is due to the fact that the oil is a neutral solvent).
In addition to all of the above, petroleum jelly has a number of unique properties that are chemically stable. Unlike fats of plant and animal origin, it does not go rancid, does not undergo oxidation processes and does not change its consistency, color and smell even during long-term storage.
It should also be noted: Vaseline oil is not absorbed into the skin, which makes it absolutely safe in those cosmetic products that are recommended for short-term use as medicinal creams and ointments, in products used to remove freckles and tanning. For the same reason, it is considered absolutely safe for small children and nursing women: in newborns, Vaseline oil as an external remedy prevents dry skin and helps improve its condition, and in nursing mothers it accelerates the healing process of microcracks in the nipples. In women during lactation, lumps often form in the mammary glands, which are accompanied by pain. Compresses with Vaseline oil can effectively combat this unpleasant phenomenon. They also allow you to eliminate the manifestations of lactose and blockage of the milk ducts.
For newborns, Vaseline oil is recommended not only for treating skin folds, but also as a diaper product. Applied in a thin layer to the skin, it prevents chafing and, accordingly, the development of irritation.
Contraindications
Naturally, it is worth considering contraindications to the use of the product. So, among the prohibitions:
- Inflammation in the abdominal cavity, as well as the presence of parasites;
- Prohibition of internal use in the presence of hemorrhoids, ulcers and other problems that may be found in the digestive system;
- Lactation and pregnancy, there is a risk of uterine tone;
- Poisoning;
- Fever, as well as intestinal obstruction and bleeding;
- Hypersensitivity to the drug.
It is also worth understanding that petroleum jelly self-prescribed or taken without control can lead to a decrease in intestinal tone, which will further aggravate the situation with constipation, as well as to hypervitaminosis.
When taking care of yourself and using simple and accessible products in various areas, you should be careful. It is necessary to follow the recommendations given in the instructions and not use the principle “more is better.” In such a situation, you can get the opposite effect.
Directions for use and dosage
In accordance with the instructions, Vaseline oil is dosed according to the following scheme:
- Half a teaspoon - for children under 3 years old;
- A teaspoon – for children from 3 to 7 years old;
- One and a half teaspoons - for children from 7 to 14 years old;
- Two teaspoons - for children over seven years of age and teenagers, as well as for the elderly;
- Two and a half teaspoons for adults.
The oil is taken between meals. The optimal intake is on an empty stomach: two hours after a meal or two hours before it. The laxative effect is usually observed after five to six hours.
For chronic constipation, Vaseline oil is taken on an empty stomach, 1-2 tablespoons once or twice a day.
The duration of the course of treatment should not exceed 5 days.
Reviews
If the oil is used correctly and as intended, its healing effect will be obvious. Reviews from people who have tried the drug on themselves testify in its favor. This is a truly effective and safe method for solving a delicate intestinal problem . For those who have tried Vaseline oil once, its use seems justified.
Another advantage that patients note is accessibility. There are no problems with purchasing the drug, even for those who live in saving mode.
You can read all the reviews at the end of the material below.
What causes constipation?
Constipation is an ambiguous disorder of intestinal function. You can only help by knowing the cause and influencing supporting factors. The main damage concerns the disruption of peristaltic waves in the large intestine. This leads to stagnation and drying of feces, the formation of rocky formations, and the development of rotting processes.
The reason may be:
- impaired communication with the central nervous system through the nodes of the spinal cord (with strokes, neurological pathology, spinal injuries);
- atony in old age is of atherosclerotic origin; gradual intestinal ischemia with damage to the mesenteric vessels leads to loss of innervation;
- inflammation in the intestine, reaching the submucosal and muscular layer, the formation of ulcers (chronic enterocolitis, nonspecific ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease);
- a tumor process emanating from the intestinal mucosa or local lymph nodes, compressing the intestinal lumen;
- chronic adhesive disease, inflammation of diverticula cause partial obstruction;
- helminthic infestation in children.
In addition to diseases, constipation is caused by:
- poor nutrition (predominance of carbohydrates in food, lack of fiber and vitamins);
- sedentary work, lack of physical activity, insufficient use of the abdominal muscles;
- In children under one year of age, the period of adaptation to complementary feeding is important, and in newborns, the underdevelopment of nerve connections and the incomplete process of seeding the intestines with the necessary bacterial flora are important.
Vaseline: composition and beneficial properties
Vaseline consists of a mixture of solid and liquid hydrocarbons. It is extracted during the processing of semi-solid oil residue using steam or vacuum distillation. Vaseline oil contains ceresin, paraffin and components to increase viscosity. There are no harmful substances in it.
Liquid paraffin, also called petroleum jelly, obtained from petroleum, is widely used in cosmetology and medicine for these reasons:
- The substance is completely non-toxic;
- Does not disrupt intestinal microflora;
- When ingested, it is not absorbed into the blood;
- Vaseline oil contains no carcinogens;
There are quite a lot of useful properties due to which Vaseline is used in various areas:
- Fast healing. This property of petroleum jelly is possible due to its occlusive properties. The oil can seal small skin lesions, thereby preventing harmful bacteria and other contaminants from entering them. This helps the body quickly repair damage to the skin. This property is used by some manufacturers of fruits and vegetables, who coat their products with petroleum jelly, which contributes to their longer storage;
- Hydration. Liquid paraffin is an excellent moisturizer. The occlusives contained in its composition form an airtight film on the surface of the skin, and it prevents moisture loss, thereby preventing dryness. This helps the skin restore itself from the inside;
- Antimicrobial effect. This property of Vaseline oil helps to quickly eliminate cuts, abrasions and cracks in the skin.
