Counterirritants

COUNTERIRRITANTS 
  • These are agents that are thought to act by producing an irritant action on the skin which enables increased blood flow to the applied area. When an irritant substance produces painful stimulus on the skin, it is able to mask the pain from deeper tissues.
  • They also bring about an antiinflammatory response due to enhanced blood supply and is helpful in treating localised conditions such as trauma, swelling, pain etc.
  • Counterirritants are very commonly employed in reducing pain and inflammation in traumatic and musculoskeletal conditions.
  • Depending on the intensity of irritation produced, counterirritants are classified as follows.
  • Rubefacient:Agents that produce a mild increase in blood flow at the site of application.
  • Eg: Iodine ointment
  • Vesicant: Agents that produce a stiffer irritation to form vesicants underneath the skin which are filled with serous fluid. Eg: Cantharidine
  • Pustulant: Agents that produce a much stronger irritation which reaches the underlying structures and form pustules which are filled with pus. Eg. Croton oil
  • Caustic: Agents that produce very intense form of irritation so that they corrode the skin and underlying structures.Eg: Caustic soda, caustic potash
Last modified: Thursday, 26 April 2012, 5:43 AM