Have you ever come around a chemical called benzyl alcohol? Probably in cosmetics or skin products. Benzyl alcohol has become a very common chemical ingredient. But do we know how it works and uses of it? In the following article, we will see what benzyl alcohol is, its application, and its uses.
What is Benzyl Alcohol?
- Benzyl alcohol is nothing but aromatic alcohol.
- It is a colourless liquid with a mild aromatic scent.
- Because it has low toxicity it is used as solvent in many places
- It is also called phenylcarbinol or benzene methanol.
They are mostly used in
- Cosmetics
- Skincare
- Perfume
- Soaps
- Food additives
- Medicines
- Treatment of head lice
It is also used as a dying polyamide, bonding agent, and degreasing agent. In pharmacy, benzyl alcohol is used as bacteriostatic and local anesthetic manufacturers supply this kind of benzyl alcohol all around us.
Due to the polarity of Benzyl Alcohol, it is widely used as a solvent in multiple applications. As a solvent application, Benzyl alcohol is used in paints, waxes, epoxy coatings, lacquers, etc.
In the pharmaceutical sector it is used in the treatment of head lice, a 5% solution of benzyl alcohol can be used on a 6 months child to older people. While it can cure lice infection, it is only effective for head lice and not in any other part of our body.
We have so many manufacturers who produce products containing benzyl alcohol, but does it do any good? And in what treatment benzyl alcohol is used. Let’s learn it through this article.
Why is Benzyl Alcohol Prescribed for Lice Infections?
Benzyl alcohol lotion is prescribed to patients who have the trouble of lice, these are small insects that stick to our skin on the scalp. This is a very common problem for everyone who has short hair to long hair. These lice grow on our heads and lay eggs and create havoc to get rid of them.
Benzyl alcohol helps with it, but it only kills the lice, not the lice eggs. Hence you have to use this benzyl alcohol lotion twice to completely eliminate the infection.
How to Use Benzyl Alcohol Lotion to Your Skin:
- Topical benzyl alcohol is a lotion to apply to your scalp and hair.
- It is generally 3 treatments but sometimes it may take 3 treatments.
- After one week of the first treatment, you can do the second treatment if necessary.
- Follow the instructions of the package correctly.
- Your doctor will prescribe a specific amount of lotion which will be sufficient for your hair length.
- Make sure to cover all your scalp area and hair in order to get the best results.
- Do ask your doctor or pharmacist to provide you with a copy of the information about the manufacturer of the benzyl alcohol lotion.
- It should be only applied on the scalp and hair. The lotion should not touch other parts of your body and especially sensitive areas like eyes.
- Leave it on your hair till the prescribed time and wash it right away.
- Wash all your clothes, the cloth used while applying the lotion in boiling water, and clean your combs thoroughly before using it again.
- Application site irritation
- Severe itching
- Redness of the skin
- Irritation of the eye
- Vision problems
- Dryness
- Dry scalp
- Peeling skin
As you can see the effects of benzyl alcohol if it touches your skin. Hence, one should be careful while handling this product. Apart from the lice infection in pharmaceuticals, benzyl alcohol is used in skincare products and supplied worldwide. We should use any product containing benzyl alcohol with caution as it may irritate our skin. Also, Benzyl alcohol is used as a solvent in many applications. Look for a
benzyl alcohol supplier like
Prakash Chemicals International who can offer you such quality chemicals at a good cost.