Alum: what it is, benefits and harms, instructions for use

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

To obtain this product, potassium-aluminum alum at a temperature of more than 160 degrees Celsius, which leads to a decrease in volume by almost 55%. Then the resulting substance is thoroughly ground into powder and sifted. Such manipulations make it possible to obtain a crystalline, inert, moisture-absorbing, chemically stable, odorless white powder. Burnt alum exhibits a drying, anti-inflammatory, cauterizing, antimicrobial, hemostatic and enveloping effect. This remedy also has an antipruritic effect.

Benefits for human health

The product has strong moisture-absorbing, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Most often it is used for the following purposes:

• to combat excessive sweating;
• normalization of the activity of the sebaceous glands;
• emergency healing of various skin injuries;
• elimination of pathogenic microorganisms.

To achieve maximum effect, it is important to follow the instructions.

Instructions for Burnt alum (Method and dosage)

It should be noted that the instructions for burnt Alum indicate that this product is intended for use as powders. At the same time, it is recommended to use the powder not every day, but only in cases of special need.

To treat ulcers or wounds, you need to prepare a special solution of alum. You will need half a teaspoon of powder and a glass of hot water in which the product is diluted. Wounds are treated with the resulting solution several times a day. It is also possible to apply a gauze bandage.

After applying the substance to a specific location, a colloidal film or albuminate , which protects numerous nerve endings. This allows you to reduce pain or, for example, itching after insect bites.

Simple instructions for use

First you need to remember the general principles of using the drug, which are the same for the whole body:

1. Do not apply the powder to open wounds, cuts, cracks or other damaged skin, as this can cause severe irritation and a burning sensation.
2. Maintain an adequate dosage; you need to apply burnt alum in small, even layers; sprinkle kilograms of powder on your skin, trying to enhance the effect is not only pointless, but has its own side effects.
3. It is recommended to carry out procedures, as in the case of antiperspirants, in the evening, approximately 1-2 hours before bedtime. This is due to the less intense operation of the sweating system, which will allow you to use the product as efficiently as possible.
4. It is also important to apply only to skin that has been washed with antibacterial soap and dried. This is due to the fact that microorganisms, dust, unwashed sweat and other particles prevent normal contact with the skin and penetration into it. This also applies to ordinary droplets of water, so if you do not have time to wait for the skin to dry naturally, you can carefully dry it with a hairdryer.
5. Before going to bed, it is recommended to lightly wrap the treated surface with gauze or put on clothes (a T-shirt for the armpits, socks for the legs). This is necessary to avoid spreading the powder throughout the bedding.

Now, knowing the general rules of use, you can move on to the specifics of treating various parts of the body.

Legs and palms

To get rid of sweating feet and palms, burnt alum is used as a regular powder. However, before applying, do not forget to wash your feet thoroughly, treating them with pumice during the procedure. This must be done if a large enough area of ​​rough skin has accumulated on your feet that prevents the penetration of the powder.

After complete drying, simply sprinkle your palms or feet with an even thin layer of the product, remember to pay special attention to the areas between the fingers. The product can also be poured into socks or even shoes. Thus, thanks to its strong antibacterial properties, it will be possible to get rid of the unpleasant odor ingrained in shoes and socks.

In addition to the usual powder, alum can be used to treat palms as the main component of baths. To do this, in a small bath (1-2 liters of lukewarm water), you need to thoroughly dissolve 2 tablespoons of powder and put your hands in it. The duration of the procedure is about 15 minutes, after which hands must be washed with cool water. Repeat daily.

Armpits

The armpit area is usually one of the most problematic, but it can also be brought back to normal by regularly using alum.

First of all, to achieve maximum effect, the armpits should be shaved. Otherwise, excessive vegetation not only complicates the contact of the drug with the skin, but also generally increases sweating, since it disrupts the natural ventilation of the armpits. 2-3 hours after shaving, rinse your skin and sprinkle it with powder, after which you can go to bed, remembering to put on a T-shirt or press the powder with gauze and a band-aid.

Face

Quite often, excessive sweating occurs on the face, and especially on the forehead, because this is one of the areas with the highest concentration of sweat glands. The simplest way to use alum to protect the face is through regular powdering, that is, lightly applying the powder using a cotton pad.

However, there are more complex and often more effective methods. For example, at home you can prepare a mask that is similar in effect to a bath for the limbs:

1. Thoroughly dissolve 1 tablespoon of powder in 100-150 ml of warm water.
2. Take gauze and make a mask out of it that fits your face, that is, cut out holes for the eyes, nose and mouth of the desired shape.
3. Soak the mask in the prepared solution, squeeze lightly so that drops of liquid do not fall off and apply well to your face for 20-30 minutes. After removing the mask, rinse your face with running water.

For greater effect, you can add decoctions of sage, chamomile, and thyme to the composition; they have an extremely positive effect on skin health and restore its original appearance.

Reviews of burnt alum

As numerous reviews of burnt alum show, they are widely used in the treatment of various dermatitis , eczema , diaper rash , stomatitis , vulvovaginitis , gingivitis and other disorders.

This remedy is often used in the presence of festering wounds and trophic ulcers. In this case, gradual drying of the wounds was noted, the injuries quickly healed and stopped bleeding.

But Alum burnt from sweat is especially often used; reviews of such use are of a very different nature. Some people have been using this product for many years and are quite happy with it. Other users report that the use of burnt alum for sweating is completely ineffective even in cool weather.

There are also reviews about the use of this product for ingrown toenails. To treat this disease, patients used Alum in dry form, pouring the medicine onto the affected area under the nail. Gradually the nail grows and needs to be trimmed carefully. After some time, according to patients, the problem of ingrown toenails completely goes away.

In addition, burnt alum is used in the treatment of sore throats as a powerful antiseptic. To do this, dilute half a teaspoon in half a glass of boiled water and rinse the throat and mouth. The pain goes away almost immediately after the first rinse. For young children who cannot carry out this procedure on their own, the affected areas in the mouth are lubricated with this solution using a bandage or gauze. This usually helps soften your throat and relieve pain.

Contraindications

If burnt alum is used incorrectly, harm to the skin may be inevitable. Extreme caution in the use of alum is required in the following cases:

• those suffering from Alzheimer's disease, since the salts contained in the composition can accumulate in the gray matter of the brain;
• with mastopathy, the risks of pathological complications increase significantly;
• in case of osteoporosis, getting rid of the sweaty smell with the help of alum is possible only after consultation with your doctor. The fact is that aluminum can accumulate in bone tissue, which will provoke the progression of the disease.

In all other cases, burnt alum is completely safe; the instructions allow the use of powder even for children.

Price of burnt alum, where to buy

In Russian pharmacies this drug can be purchased at a price of 130 rubles, depending on the volume and manufacturer.

The price of burnt alum in Ukraine varies between 50-70 hryvnia.

Many users are interested in the question of where to buy burnt alum in Minsk? However, as it turned out, this drug in its pure form is quite difficult to find in pharmacies in Belarus. Therefore, some people prefer to order it from Russian online pharmacies.

• Online pharmacies in RussiaRussia

ZdravCity

• Powder Alustin to eliminate sweating Burnt alum 50 g LLC Alustin
  139 rub. order

Alums in cosmetology

According to reviews, burnt alum is widely used to care for the skin of the face and body. They are present in many lotions, creams and powders. They have the ability to cleanse the face of acne and rejuvenate the skin. At the same time, cosmetics are low in cost.

Instructions for using burnt alum in cosmetology are as follows:

1. To achieve breast elasticity, use compresses containing the product and olive oil. The ratio of components is 1:5. The course of treatment procedures is 2 weeks and is carried out daily for a quarter of an hour. The napkins are laid loosely on the chest, and during this period the woman lies on her back.
2. To get rid of acne, you need to use a special mask. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of alum in 50 ml of water and add the same amount of olive oil. Keep the mixture on your face for 10 minutes, then rinse with water.
3. A mask that contains white clay and alum has excellent properties. Mix the components in a ratio of 3:1. Next, add 1 teaspoon of alcohol tincture of propolis to the mixture. Apply the mask to the skin for 15 minutes, rinse with water.
4. To cleanse the skin, it is convenient to use a solution of alum.

By using the product to care for the skin of the face and body, you can achieve a positive effect in a fairly short time.

General information

This remedy has been used for a very long time by many peoples of the world to treat skin diseases. They were used in China, Siberia, and Mongolia. By the way, all these substances were called “alum” for one simple reason - if you try a small amount of them on your tongue, you can feel a slight sourness. By the way, why is alum burnt? It's simple. The product is obtained by dehydration. During the chemical-physical process, a crystalline powder is obtained that contains virtually no moisture.

Modern doctors do not recommend tasting the product: there is a risk of poisoning. Nevertheless, cosmetologists and dermatologists pay tribute to alum, since with their help many patients were able to completely get rid of sweating that had plagued them for many years. Doctors advise using potassium aluminum compounds - they have a powerful deodorizing effect, and are also able to “tune” the sweat glands so that they begin to secrete noticeably less secretion. In appearance, potassium alum (the main active ingredient, by the way, is aluminum) is a white crystalline powder.

Properties that have made alum popular among cosmetologists and dermatologists:

• Potassium and aluminum compounds are powerful antibacterial agents . Microbes, as we know, are “to blame” for the occurrence of an unpleasant odor, since they decompose sweat, feeding on its components. It is clear that as a result of this process, far from rose oil is released.
• In addition, these same substances have an astringent effect, and therefore are able to dry and deodorize profusely sweating skin.

The drying and “binding” effect is explained by the fact that the components of alum “preserve” small capillaries, which reduces the flow of fluid to the upper layers of the skin. Since alum powder is most often used to treat areas of the body that are reliably protected from the effects of negative environmental factors, your skin is not at risk of drying out and cracking.

Physical properties

Aluminum-potassium sulfate is white hygroscopic crystals, highly soluble in water.

It is isolated from aqueous solutions in the form of crystalline hydrate KAl(SO4)2•12H2O - colorless crystals of cubic system, space group P a3

, cell parameters
a
= 1.2158 nm, melting point 92°C (in its own water of crystallization).

Application of potassium alum

The astringent property has made alum popular in the production of products for eliminating the odor of sweat. They like to add it to deodorants during their manufacture, and use it as a daily powder for interdigital folds and the skin of the feet. On the 5th day, the drug gives results: it helps relieve itching and the existing unpleasant odor. For small cuts, wipe your face with the product after shaving. For erosions on the skin and cracks, an infusion of alum has a regenerating effect.

The use of potassium alum is widely known for its preventive effect and treatment:

• fungal diseases (mycoses);
• excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis, including the armpits and palms);
• inguinal diaper rash and under the mammary glands;
• stomatitis caused by herpes viruses;
• with skin tightness;
• oily seborrhea;
• ingrown nails.

How to dilute potassium alum in water

The reagent has a detrimental effect on pathogenic bacteria. To achieve effectiveness, you need to know how to dilute potassium alum in water. First, you need to buy mineral powder at the pharmacy and prepare a remedy with which you can stop the bleeding. In a glass of water (250 milliliters) dilute 1/3 tsp. substances, moisten a clean cloth with it. The patient needs to apply a napkin to the affected tissues: the mineral has a contracting effect. The surface of damaged vessels dries out, and blood stops flowing.

Harm of potassium alum

Mineral powder is safe when used externally and does not cause harm to health. Individual intolerance and hypersensitive reaction to aluminum salts may be harmful to potassium alum and contraindications for use. This happens extremely rarely, but cases of dermatitis have been observed when using deodorants with alum. The drug is not intended for internal use and can cause irreparable damage to health, so you need to practice folk recipes yourself with great caution.

Where and how to use alum?

If you are using alum to eliminate excessive sweating on your hands and/or feet, thoroughly wash the skin in these areas, pat dry, and apply the powder. It is advisable to cover the treated area with a light gauze cloth and “grab” it with a couple of pieces of plaster. This will prevent the drug from being washed off from the skin and its subsequent distribution over the surface of the bed linen. Of course, it is necessary to cover the treated surface only with light, air-permeable materials, since otherwise the sweat glands will work even more actively.