Can I still use ichthammol ointment after it has expired?
Disease description:
There's a tube of ichthammol ointment at home that seems to have expired, but I don't want to waste it. I'd like to ask whether it is still safe to use after expiration, and whether there could be any side effects?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Wenmin
It is generally not recommended to use ichthammol ointment after its expiration date.
Ichthammol ointment, as a topical medication, is mainly used for treating skin inflammations, furuncles, and similar conditions. Its primary component is ichthammol. Once the medication has expired, the active ingredients may have degraded or deteriorated, leading to reduced potency or even complete loss of effectiveness. Continued use of expired ointment may fail to achieve the expected therapeutic effect and could potentially delay treatment. Therefore, the use of expired medications is not recommended.
Furthermore, even if expired medications appear unchanged visually, their chemical properties may have altered. They might have generated harmful substances or experienced changes in the stability of their original components, thereby increasing the risk of adverse reactions after application. After its expiration date, ichthammol ointment may become more irritating and could cause skin damage, resulting in discomfort such as redness and itching.
It is advisable to regularly check the medications at home, dispose of expired ones promptly, and purchase new medications when necessary. Also, proper storage of medications, avoiding high temperatures and humid environments, can help prolong their shelf life.
