Boric acid and boric alcohol: the same or not, what is the difference between these drugs, what is dripping into the ear, and what are the other nuances of the difference between them?

Most people find it difficult to distinguish between three substances with similar names - boric acid, boric alcohol, and salicylic acid.

In medicine, a drug such as boric alcohol is widely used, which is a solution in ethanol (70%) of boric acid, the concentration of which may lie in the range of 0.5-5%. In order to understand the properties of this drug, it is necessary to take a closer look at its active substance and figure out what it is.

So, let's try to figure it out, and also consider what exactly is dripping into the ear.

What is boric acid?

Boric acid (H₃BO₃) is a solid, powdery white substance, odorless. It dissolves at a temperature of 0 ºС. Contained in mineral waters, as well as in small quantities - in berries, fruits, and sometimes in wine.

The use of boric acid covers a huge number of different areas. Nowadays, boric acid is used:

in the production of enamel products;
has a disinfecting property, so that it is widely used in medicine for the treatment of wounds;
part of some drugs;
when tanning leather;
in the production of mineral paint;
involved in nuclear production;
in agriculture;
in the food industry;
in a photo;
in jewelry.

Boric alcohol

This drug is not exactly the same with acid. What is the difference - easy to understand. Boric alcohol is a liquid solution of boric acid in ethyl alcohol (in 70% ethanol). It has all the antiseptic properties of boric acid, and is used for lotions, compresses and disinfecting wounds.

Among the older generation, a method of treating otic inflammations is common with cotton wool soaked in boric alcohol. In common parlance, boric acid and the alcohol of the same name are one and the same medicine that is dripped into the ear in otitis or used in a different way. We note, however, that at present, experts are arguing about the efficacy and safety of such treatment.

It must be remembered that Boric alcohol, like any drug, can cause a number of side effects.therefore it is necessary to urgently seek medical help if the following symptoms are detected:

intoxication, which can be as acute (symptoms appear already minutes / hours after the stimulus enters the body),and chronic (it develops gradually with constant ingestion of the stimulus in small portions and accumulates);
skin irritation;
scaly flaking epithelium;
Strong headache;
clouding of consciousness;
oliguria (reducing the amount of urine produced per day);
rarely - a state of shock.

Boric alcohol is also used as an anti-acne agent. As a rule, they are moistened with a cotton disc and rubbed face. In order for the remedy to work most quickly, you can repeat this procedure twice a day, but in this case you need to be careful not to overdry the skin.

Lubricate the skin with a solution is necessary until complete disappearance of acne, while their number decreases after a week of application of the solution. In case of irritation, it is urgent to stop the procedure.

What is different from the above means salicylic acid?

Salicylic acid (C₇H₆O₃) is a substance from the group of aromatic hydroxy acids. For the first time this substance was obtained from willow bark. Later, the German chemist Kolbe was able to synthesize salicylic acid using a rather simple method, which is used to produce it today.

Salicylic acid was originally used to treat rheumatism.Currently, when there is a large number of effective means to combat this disease, this substance is used as an anti-inflammatory.

Salicylic acid is found in many combination products., such as:

iprosalik;
belosalik;
viprosal;
camphocin;
zincundan;
Lorinden A;
lotions and creams "Klerasil";
shampoos;
tonics;
gels;
pencils and other shapes.

At high concentration salicylic acid affects sensitive nerves and is used to reduce pain.

Like other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, salicylic acid is also used for vasoconstriction and as antipruritic.

It is recommended to apply salicylic acid with the following indications:

infectious and inflammatory diseases of the skin;
increased sweating;
excessive thickening of the stratum corneum of the epidermis;
burns;
eczema;
psoriasis, pityriasis versicolor;
seborrhea, hair loss;
pyoderma (purulent skin lesion);
erythrasma (superficial form of pseudomycosis of the skin);
ichthyosis (a violation of keratinization of the skin - a hereditary disease);
mycoses of the feet;
acne;
removal of warts;
getting rid of corns, black dots, corns;
dermatitis;
varicolor versicolor.

It should be remembered that in the case of ingestion, salicylic acid, being a type of acids in general, irritates the stomach.

People with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract should consult a specialist before taking products containing salicylic acid, which include such popular medicines as:

aspirin (used mainly as a febrifuge);
Phenacetin (combined with other antipyretic drugs);
antipyrine (used in combination with other means);
analgin (can be used in pills and parenterally: subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intravenously);
Butadion (used in tablets);
Sodium salicylate is recommended for the treatment of rheumatism in the form of powder, tablets or solution, and is also administered in 10-15% solutions intravenously.

In the treatment of rheumatism, salicylates are prescribed in large doses, so they can cause side effects:

shortness of breath;
noise in ears;
skin rashes.

Attention! It must be remembered that during pregnancy and lactation salicylic acid is not recommended.

Having got acquainted with all substances, let's summarize whether it is the same or not, what is the difference:

Boric alcohol is a derivative of boric acid and has the same medicinal properties - both substances are disinfectants;
salicylic acid differs from the two mentioned substances in its structure as well as in the field of application - it is an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent;
when using all the considered drugs, you must be careful and consult with experts before use.