Balneol^® Product Info

Balneol^® Usage
Cleansing for Prevention and Healing
Directions for Using Balneol^®
The pH of Healthy Skin
Causes of Perianal and Vaginal Itching
Crohn's Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Hemorrhoids, Progesterone Decreases, Menopause
More on Hemorrhoids

Use Balneol^® for the hygienic cleansing of irritated perianal and external vaginal areas. The product is intended for external use only.

Balneol^® provides symptomatic relief by forming a protective coating which helps to restore skin to its normal pH.

Cleansing for Prevention and Healing

Skin must be cleansed regularly to prevent damage and inflammation. Lack of appropriate hygiene disrupts the free flow of cellular secretions into the acid mantle and allows pathogenic bacteria and fungus to grow. In the perianal and vaginal areas this results in irritation, itching and yeast infections.⁵

In spite of acceptable daily hygiene, contamination and injury of the sensitive skin in the perianal/vaginal area are common medical complaints. Conditions that create irritation (such as diarrhea and menstruation) as well as those that affect the perianal tissue (such as constipation and hemorrhoids) can make adequate cleansing challenging and painful. Balneol^® helps patients maintain appropriate hygiene and provides symptomatic relief for perianal and external vaginal itching.

Directions for Use

To cleanse and reduce discomfort in the perianal area:

• Spread a small amount of Balneol^® on cotton or clean tissue and wipe the skin around the perianal area cleansing after each bowel movement.
• Use for additional comfort between bowel movements and at bedtime.

To cleanse and soothe the external vaginal area

• Spread a small amount of Balneol^® on cotton or clean tissue and wipe the external vaginal area.
• Use as often as necessary.
• Balneol^® is intended for external use only.

Caution: In all cases of rectal bleeding, consult physician promptly. If irritation persists or increases, discontinue use and consult physician.

The pH of Healthy Skin

Potential of hydrogen (pH) measures the strength of acids and bases on a scale from 1 to 14. Water, which is neutral, has a pH of 7. Any substance with a pH below 7 is categorized as an acid, any substance with a pH value above 7 is a base.²

Healthy skin is covered with a thin layer of protective fluid called the acid mantle. The acid mantle is maintained by secretions from certain types of glands in the skin (Figure 1).

Skin pH over 6.5, less acidic, causes two problems. First, the normal protective barrier breaks down and skin cells are pulled away from one another. The skin becomes irritated and susceptible to further damage by environmental irritants. Second, there is an increased risk of infection because the growth of bacteria and yeasts is no longer controlled by the normal acidity on the skin.²

Causes of Perianal and Vaginal Itching

Irritation and itching (pruritus) in the perianal and external vaginal areas are caused by an imbalance in skin pH. This imbalance usually is the result of gastrointestinal abnormalities that cause diarrhea, constipation, anal fissures or hemorrhoids. In addition, life style choices and normal physical changes due to pregnancy and aging can affect the perianal and external vaginal flora.

Illness

Perianal and vaginal irritation and itching often is the result of acute infections or chronic conditions that disturb the balance of intestinal flora and lead to diarrhea or constipation. Chronic diseases of the intestinal tract such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis commonly are associated with diarrhea. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome experience cycles of diarrhea and constipation. Constipation can produce painful hemorrhoids as well as anal fissures.^{3, 4}

Medical Treatment

In the healthy acid mantle of the skin yeasts and bacteria are in perfect balance. Antibiotics kill not only harmful bacteria but also beneficial bacteria of the vagina. Therefore, antibiotic treatment can allow the uncontrolled growth of yeast and result in vaginal yeast infections. In addition, antibiotics can cause diarrhea or constipation in some patients. Other medical treatments such as radiation therapy and digestive tract surgery may be associated with diarrhea.^{4, 5}

Life Style Choices

Food choices and hygiene routines can impact skin health in the perianal and vaginal areas. Certain foods are known to produce diarrhea. These include caffeinated and alcoholic beverages as well as acidic and spicy foods.⁶

Strongly alkaline soaps can raise the skin's pH to unhealthy levels. The use of scented toilet paper, soaps, or ointments also can cause rectal pruritus (also known as pruritus ani).⁶

Natural Body Changes

The hormonal adjustments throughout pregnancy may lead to constipation and hemorrhoids. Progesterone decreases intestinal motility, increases the absorption of fluid from the intestinal tract and leaves women with harder stools. At the same time the additional weight of the growing baby impedes blood flow away from the anus. The blood pools in the veins around the anus and creates hemorrhoids.⁷ 

Hormonal changes affected by birth control pills or patches, pregnancy or menopause predispose women to vaginal yeast infections. Pregnancy, for example, increases vaginal pH and promotes the storage of sugar in vaginal cell walls. Yeast thrives in this environment. In non-pregnant women, monthly menstrual flow creates the moist, warm conditions that invite the growth of yeast.^{5, 8}

Menopause changes cervical mucus and makes women vulnerable to dryness, external vaginal itch and yeast infections. Pastore et al. found that 27.0% of post-menopausal women aged 50 to 79 years old reported urogenital dryness and 18.6% said that they had irritation or itching in the perianal/external vaginal area. This is aggravated by the natural decrease in blood flow and gland secretion in aging skin which make it more susceptible to damage and slower to heal. Many older women also have to manage incontinence associated with a constant flow of irritants to the perianal and external vaginal areas. ^{9, 10}

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids mostly affect adults 45 to 65 years old. An estimated 10 million Americans suffer from hemorrhoids and approximately 75% of adults experience hemorrhoids at least once in their lives.¹¹ Excessive pressure on the blood vessels in the rectal area causes hemorrhoids. As described above, common causes for this change in pressure are excessive straining during bowel movements, constipation, obesity, pregnancy and childbirth, as well as diarrhea.

Hemorrhoids are usually associated with lump-like bulges at the anus, itching, soreness and pain in the anal area. Bloody stools or hemorrhoids that do not respond to at-home treatment may be due to more serious medical conditions and therefore should be examined by a physician.¹² However, most hemorrhoidal symptoms can be relieved safely with sitz baths, icing of the affected region, hemorrhoid or anti-itch creams and careful cleansing of the anal area.