Caustics and Escharotics
| Home | | Pharmacology |Chapter: Essential pharmacology : Drugs Acting On Skin And Mucous Membranes
Caustic means corrosive and Escharotic means cauterizer. These chemicals cause local tissue destruction and sloughing. An escharotic, in addition, precipitates proteins that exude to form a scab—gets fibrosed to form a tough scar.
CAUSTICS AND ESCHAROTICS
Caustic means corrosive and Escharotic means cauterizer. These chemicals cause local tissue destruction and
sloughing. An escharotic, in addition, precipitates proteins that exude to form
a scab—gets fibrosed to form a tough scar. They are used to remove moles, warts
(including genital warts) condylomata, papillomas and on keratotic lesions.
Care is needed in their application to avoid ulceration. It is believed that
all microorganisms are killed during cauterization, but this is not always so.
Podophyllum
resin As 10–25% alcoholic
solution or suspension in mineral oil.
PODOWART 20% paint;
CONDYLINE 0.5% podophyllotoxin soln.
Silver
nitrate As toughened silver nitrate
sticks or pencils
Phenol
As 80% w/w solution.
Trichloroacetic
acid As crystals or 10–20% solution to cauterise adenoids; dilute
solution is used to promote peeling of frackled skin.
Glacial acetic acid Undiluted.
