Depilatory

DEPILATORY, Depilatorium (from Latin pilus - hair), or Anticrinin (from Latin crinis - hair), a means for temporary hair removal. The composition of a depilatory includes sulfur compounds of calcium, strontium, and barium, which cause swelling and destruction of the hair follicle, and at the same time irritate and destroy the skin. The original Eastern depilatory, Rhusma turcorum, long used by Turkic peoples in the Near East and Central Asia, contained 1 part of sulfur arsenic and 5 parts of burnt lime; according to later recipes - 10% sulfur arsenic (orpiment), 75% burnt lime and 15% wheat flour. Calcium sulfide, the active ingredient, is formed from the interaction of sulfur arsenic and lime: 3CaO + 3H₂O + 2As₂S₃ = 3Ca(SH)₂ + 2As₂O₃, during which arsenic anhydride with calcium oxide forms a poisonous arsenic-calcium salt, for which reason a depilatory of this composition should not be sold without a prescription. Less poisonous is the depilatory (according to Clasen), containing 50% barium sulfide and 25% each of zinc oxide and starch. Depilatories in which the active ingredients are sodium, potassium, calcium or potassium sulfides and which do not contain arsenic are not poisonous. The anticrinin depilatory with strontium sulfide (Strontii sulfurati 60.0, Zinci oxydati 20.0, Amyli tritici 19.0, Mentholi 1.0. M. f. p.) does not possess any noticeable smell of H₂S. Depilatories are usually sold in powder form, more rarely - in the form of pastes, which are less stable during storage. Powdered depilatory, when applied, is mixed with water to obtain a liquid paste, which is then applied in a thin layer to the area from which hair is to be removed; after 10-15 minutes, the paste is removed, and the hair-free skin is washed with water and, after drying, is smeared with vaseline, oil or indifferent ointment.