Resinol is a skin protectant and topical analgesic that is made by ResiCal Inc. from Orchard Park, New York. It is an over-the-counter drug that can currently be purchased in 1.25 or 3.3 ounce (35 or 94 g) jars by contacting a local pharmacy's drug wholesaler to order the item or on the Internet. It is an ointment that is beige in color and has a distinctive rubbery scent. It has a tacky consistency and is somewhat difficult to get off undesired body parts it comes into contact with (like one’s fingers after applying it).
Resinol was developed by Dr. Merville Hamilton Carter (1857-1939) in his private practice as treatment for his patients in Baltimore, Maryland during the late 19th century. [1] In 1895, Carter, along with his brother Allan L. Carter and his cousin Henry Stier Dulaney founded the Resinol Chemical Company and began to mass-produce the ointment and other medical products. After over forty years of selling Resinol, the company had John H. Buffham & Co. as an outlet in Great Britain and was a successful global distributor. Henry LeRoy Carter Sr., the son of Dr. Carter, began running the company after the deaths of his father and other staff members. The company's sales began to decline in the 1940s, and after the death of Henry LeRoy Carter Sr. in 1951, [2] his son Henry LeRoy Carter Jr. took the place of his father and grandfather as president of the Resinol Chemical Company. At that time, the company focused more on soap manufacturing, but continued to sell Resinol. For the rest of the 20th century, Resinol's popularity continued to dwindle. It was purchased by ResiCal Inc. in 2002, [3] which at the time was headed by D. Brooks Cole. [4]
Resinol is used to treat several different types of skin ailments. It is used to prevent and temporarily protect chafed, chapped, or cracked skin, temporarily relieve pain and itching caused by minor burns, minor cuts and scrapes, minor skin irritations and sunburn, and dry the oozing and weeping of irritation caused by contact with poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.
Adults and children that are two years of age or older should apply Resinol to affected area of skin no more than three to four times a day. A physician should be asked if an application would be appropriate for a child younger than two years.
Resinol is for external uses only. When using it, avoid contact with eyes and do not apply over large areas of the body. Discontinue use and ask a physician if any condition worsens where applied, symptoms last more than seven days, or symptoms clear up and reappear within a few days. Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a poison control center immediately.
The active ingredients used in Resinol are a 55% solution of petroleum jelly and a 2% solution of resorcinol. Calamine, corn starch, lanolin, and zinc oxide comprise the inactive ingredients.
In the 1980s, Resinol ointment was manufactured by the Mentholatum Company of Buffalo, New York 14213, a maker of liniment. Its ingredients statement then read Zinc Oxide 12% (an antibacterial agent and sunscreen); Calamine 6%; Resorcinol 2% (also an antibacterial).
In the 1960s, Resinol came in an opaque, white glass jar with a metal lid. It was made by the Resinol Chemical Company of Baltimore, Maryland 21201, and the label listed the following ingredients: Resorcinol; Oil of Cade (Cade is a species of prickly juniper native to the regions surrounding the Mediterranean; the oil gave the unguent a medicinal odor); Prepared Calamine; Zinc Oxide; Bismuth Subnitrate (now used mostly in veterinary medicine); Boric Acid (antibacterial); Lanolin; Petrolatum.
Lanolin, also called wool yolk, wool wax, or wool grease, is a wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals. Lanolin used by humans comes from domestic sheep breeds that are raised specifically for their wool. Historically, many pharmacopoeias have referred to lanolin as wool fat ; however, as lanolin lacks glycerides, it is not a true fat. Lanolin primarily consists of sterol esters instead. Lanolin's waterproofing property aids sheep in shedding water from their coats. Certain breeds of sheep produce large amounts of lanolin.
A corrosive substance is one that will damage or destroy other substances with which it comes into contact by means of a chemical reaction.
Urushiol is an oily mixture of organic compounds with allergenic properties found in plants of the family Anacardiaceae, especially Toxicodendronspp., Comocladia spp. (maidenplums), Metopium spp. (poisonwood), and also in parts of the mango tree as well as the fruit of the cashew tree. In most individuals, urushiol causes an allergic skin rash on contact, known as urushiol-induced contact dermatitis.
Antibacterial soap is a soap which contains chemical ingredients that purportedly assist in killing bacteria. The majority of antibacterial soaps contain triclosan, though other chemical additives are also common. The effectiveness of products branded as being antibacterial has been disputed by some academics as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Zinc oxide is an inorganic compound with the formula ZnO. It is a white powder that is insoluble in water. ZnO is used as an additive in numerous materials and products including cosmetics, food supplements, rubbers, plastics, ceramics, glass, cement, lubricants, paints, ointments, adhesives, sealants, pigments, foods, batteries, ferrites, fire retardants, and first-aid tapes. Although it occurs naturally as the mineral zincite, most zinc oxide is produced synthetically.
Contact dermatitis is a type of acute or chronic inflammation of the skin caused by exposure to chemical or physical agents. Symptoms of contact dermatitis can include itchy or dry skin, a red rash, bumps, blisters, or swelling. These rashes are not contagious or life-threatening, but can be very uncomfortable.
Zinc pyrithione is a coordination complex of zinc. It has fungistatic and bacteriostatic properties and is used in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis and dandruff.
A topical medication is a medication that is applied to a particular place on or in the body. Most often topical medication means application to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes to treat ailments via a large range of classes including creams, foams, gels, lotions, and ointments. Many topical medications are epicutaneous, meaning that they are applied directly to the skin. Topical medications may also be inhalational, such as asthma medications, or applied to the surface of tissues other than the skin, such as eye drops applied to the conjunctiva, or ear drops placed in the ear, or medications applied to the surface of a tooth. The word topical derives from Greek τοπικόςtopikos, "of a place".
Mexsana is an antiseptic medicated powder. It is used to relieve itching and chafing, to protect against perspiration odor and discomfort, while also keeping the skin's pH balanced. The product is also used to treat severely chapped skin, minor burns, and other minor skin irritations. Currently Mexsana medicated powder is produced by Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) Laboratories.
Gold Bond is a brand of over-the-counter skin care products produced by Chattem of Chattanooga, Tennessee, now a subsidiary of the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi. It is available as both a powder and a topical cream. Gold Bond is used to curb moisture, control odor, and soothe minor skin irritations, notably jock itch. Spin-off products are designed for specific uses, such as foot powders or powders for infants to treat diaper rash.
Calamine, also known as calamine lotion, is a medication used to treat mild itchiness. This includes from sunburn, insect bites, poison ivy, poison oak, and other mild skin conditions. It may also help dry out skin irritation. It is applied on the skin as a cream or lotion.
Urushiol-induced contact dermatitis is a type of allergic contact dermatitis caused by the oil urushiol found in various plants, most notably species of the genus Toxicodendron: poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and the Chinese lacquer tree. The name is derived from the Japanese word for the sap of the Chinese lacquer tree, urushi. Other plants in the sumac family also contain urushiol, as do unrelated plants such as Ginkgo biloba.
Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a form of contact dermatitis that is the manifestation of an allergic response caused by contact with a substance; the other type being irritant contact dermatitis (ICD).
Alclometasone is a synthetic corticosteroid for topical dermatologic use, possessing anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictive properties.
Bag Balm is a salve developed in 1899 to soothe irritation on cows' udders after milking. Bag Balm is widely used to soothe dry, cracked skin on humans.
Anusol is a brand of medications that can be used to treat hemorrhoids. The Anusol range includes creams, ointments, and suppositories. Anusol is now known under the brand name Tucks in the United States and some other areas while being marketed under the Anusol name in other markets. The active ingredients and usage remains unchanged between these brand names.
Zinc peroxide (ZnO2) appears as a bright yellow powder at room temperature. It was historically used as a surgical antiseptic. More recently zinc peroxide has also been used as an oxidant in explosives and pyrotechnic mixtures. Its properties have been described as a transition between ionic and covalent peroxides. Zinc peroxide can be synthesized through the reaction of zinc chloride and hydrogen peroxide.
Shampoo is a hair care product, typically in the form of a viscous liquid, that is used for cleaning hair. Less commonly, shampoo is available in solid bar format. Shampoo is used by applying it to wet hair, massaging the product into the scalp, and then rinsing it out. Some users may follow a shampooing with the use of hair conditioner.
A barrier cream is a topical formulation used in industrial applications and as a cosmetic to place a physical barrier between the skin and contaminants that may irritate the skin. There are many other terms for creams designed to protect skin from harmful substances, including skin protective creams, pre-work creams, antisolvent gels, protective ointments, and shielding lotions. Three classes of barrier creams are used: water repellent creams, water-soluble creams, and creams designed for special applications. Barrier creams may contain substances such as zinc oxide, talc or kaolin to layer over the skin. For hand care they are designed to protect against the harm from detergents and other irritants.
Unguentine is an over-the-counter topical antiseptic ointment produced by Lee Pharmaceuticals. It was introduced in 1893 as the first antiseptic surgical dressing ointment by Norwich Pharmaceuticals, who later brought Pepto Bismol to market.