BLACK-HEADS. Flesh Worms, Comedones, Pimples, etc

Categories: Diseases of The Skin

This is a disorder of
the sebaceous glands in which the sebaceous (fatty, cheesy) secretions

become thickened; the excreting ducts, appearing on the surface, as

yellowish or blackish points. They appear chiefly on the face, neck,

chest, and back and are very unsightly.



Symptoms. They are easily pressed out, and appear then as thread-like,

whitish masses which contain fatty material. The black point may be due to br />
pigment or to dirt from without. Comedones may exist with acne and

seborrhoea and excessive secretion of sebum.



Causes. Want of tone to the skin, which performs its functions

sluggishly. Stomach-bowel disorders, menstrual disturbances and anemia are

other causes and assist in making them worse. Improper care of the skin

and dusty air may be other assistant causes.







MOTHERS' REMEDIES. For Pimples and Black-heads. l. Pimples on the face,

effective yet harmless remedy for:



Camphor 10 grains

Acacia (pulverized) 20 grains

Sulphur (precipitated) 2 drams

Lime water 2 ounces

Rose water 2 ounces



Apply on the face with a soft cloth at bedtime. Allow to dry and brush off

the excess of the powder.



Anyone suffering from these eruptions is usually willing to try every

known remedy. The above is excellent and very effective and is harmless.



2. Pimples, Alum Water for. "Take a teaspoonful of alum to a quart of

water and use as a wash, say three times a day. This will cure ordinary

pimples on the face."



3. Skin Blotches, Cream of Tartar and Sulphur for. "Two ounces cream

tartar and one ounce of powdered sulphur (from the lump). Mix.

Dose:--Teaspoonful in a little water three times a day will cure."



4. Rough Skin, Healing Cream for. "One-fourth cup tallow melted, one

teaspoonful glycerin, small lump camphor, dissolved. Mix all together by

warming sufficiently." Rub in thoroughly as you do any face cream.



PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Pimples. Remove the cause if possible. The diet

should be like that given under dyspepsia and constipation. Menstrual

disorders should be remedied.



Local. Remove the plugs (of sebum) and stimulate the skin glands. For

this purpose prolonged (ten minutes at a time) bathing of the face with

hot water and soap; tincture of green soap in the more indolent, sluggish

cases, should precede the pressing out of the blackheads: Lateral pressure

with the fingers or with the comedone extractor, especially contrived for

this purpose, will express the black-heads. After they are out, the skin

dried and cleaned, various stimulating remedies can be applied in

ointments and lotions such as following:



1. "Precipitated Sulphur 1 dram

Ointment of Rose water 1 ounce



Mix and rub on at night."



2. Beta-Naphthol 1/2 dram

Resorcin 1/2 dram

Lanolin 1 ounce



Mix and apply locally.



INFLAMMATION of the Skin. (Dermatitis). This is due to many causes. It

can come from injuries, for instance the rubbing or pressure of

ill-fitting clothes, bandages, bites of insects and from scratching.



Varieties. Dermatitis ambustionis, (burning). This is due to excessive

heat upon the skin.







PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Inflammation of the Skin. Relieve the pain;

protect the parts; exclude the air. Paint the burned part with a one to

five per cent solution of cocaine, according to the severity of

inflammation. Then apply soothing lotions of equal parts of lime-water and

olive or linseed oil; cover the whole with absorbent cotton. Dusting

powder of soda bicarbonate may also be used, or common soda. In burns with

vesicles, etc., open them and then cover with carbolized oil, gauze and

adhesive to hold the dressing. The parts can be washed with a solution of

boric acid, one teaspoonful to a cup of water; then dust upon the parts

sugar of lead once or twice a day. Some use it in solution; I like the

powder better. Infusion of lobelia, one ounce to pint of hot water, is

good. Also lead and laudanum wash.