Formic acid in nature is found in some plants, fruits, acrid secretions of ants, bees and other insects. Today, it is produced on a large scale by organic synthesis. Formic acid is widely used in agriculture, textile and food industry, medicine, cosmetology, etc. Let us consider in more detail the use of formic acid in the field of health and beauty.
Properties of formic acid
Formic acid is a colorless liquid with a characteristic strong odor. To date, the benefits of formic acid are indicated by the following inherent properties:
- antibacterial;
- anti-inflammatory;
- pain reliever;
- Cleansing.
Also formic acid has a local-irritant and distracting effect.
Pure formic acid, which has a concentration of 100%, has a strong corrosive effect and causes dangerous chemical burns in contact with the skin. Inhalation and contact with concentrated vapors of this substance can cause damage to the airways and eyes. Accidental ingestion of even dilute solutions of formic acid causes symptoms of severe necrotic gastroenteritis.
Treatment with formic acid
Formic acid in medicine is used in the treatment of the following diseases:
- lesions of osteoarticular tissues (arthritis, arthrosis, osteoarthritis, osteochondrosis, scoliosis, sciatica, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis , rheumatic polyarthritis, gout, etc.);
- phlebeurysm;
- various types of injuries (hematomas, bruises, sprains, fractures, dislocations);
- viral and fungal diseases;
- acne.
The pharmacological industry produces a wide range of external therapeutic and prophylactic agents with formic acid: creams, balms, gels, ointments. Also known is a preparation such as formic alcohol, which is a solution of formic acid in ethyl alcohol (70%). Preparations based on formic acid are used to rub the sick places, with a warming massage, as warming compresses.
Formic Acid from Acne
Application against acne is the most common form of use of formic acid in cosmetology. Disinfecting, anti-inflammatory and purifying properties of this substance allow you to get rid of even severe forms of acne.
From acne it is recommended to use formic alcohol, which daily needs to wipe the skin in the lesions with a cotton pad. It should be noted that this product is able to greatly dry the skin, so it is better not to use it with dry skin type. Also, do not pre-clean the skin with detergents before applying the ant alcohol.
After wiping the skin with ant alcohol, wait for the complete drying, you should use a moisturizer. The procedure should be carried out daily until stable results are obtained (from 2 weeks to several months). It is recommended to alternate the application of formic acid with other, softer acne preparations.
Formic acid for hair removal
Another common way of using formic acid is to use it in the fight against unwanted vegetation on the body. This substance can significantly slow down the growth of hair and with prolonged use destroy hair bulbs. To this end, the formic oil specially prepared in the countries of East and Middle Asia is used, which lubricates the necessary parts of the body after epilation.
Formic acid for sunburn
For sunburn in the solarium created a special cream with formic acid. The essence of including this component in the cream intended for application before visiting the solarium is that formic acid acts on the skin warming up. Thanks to this, the metabolic processes are improved, the skin quickly acquires a swarthy tint, and the sunburn turns out to be even and persistent.