Wirkt. Seit 1884.

Ancient and yet cutting-edge: the active ingredients light Ichthyol® and dark Ichthyol® are extracted from natural oil shale rock that was formed 200 million years ago. For almost 140 years, Ichthyol-Gesellschaft has been harnessing this “power from the mountain” to produce naturally based medicines. What makes the active ingredients so special and why are they still relevant after more than 100 years?

Multiple Applications

Multiple Applications
Light and dark Ichthyol® (chemical: bituminosulfonates) have demonstrated a broad spectrum of therapeutic properties that are particularly well suited for the treatment of diseases of the skin and parts of the musculoskeletal system. These properties have been proven by clinical studies and scientific research.

Effective spectrum

What is an inflammation?
An inflammation is the body’s reaction to a harmful irritation. An example would be bacteria that penetrate the skin through a small wound, or foreign bodies such as splinters and thorns. Bruises or cartilage wear in the joints (arthrosis) can also provoke an inflammatory reaction. This usually manifests itself as reddening, swelling, warmth and pain in the affected area. Some skin inflammations can be caused by an overreaction of the body’s own immune system. These include chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as rosacea and atopic dermatitis, which are mostly associated with redness, burning and itching.

Ichthyol® PALE and dark Ichthyol® have been shown to inhibit the release of inflammatory messenger substances and thereby restrain the inflammatory process ^1,2,3. Distressing symptoms such as itching, pain and swelling can be effectively reduced.

With inflammation instigated by minor injuries and bacteria, dark Ichtholan® drawing salves are indicated. If the external symptoms of inflammation originate internally, as in the case of the chronic inflammatory skin disease rosacea, a treatment in the form of tablets Ichthraletten® is to be considered. Further products for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases can be found here.

1: Schewe, C., Schewe, T., Rohde, E., Diezel, W., and Czarnetzki, B.M. 1994. Inhibitory effects of sulfonated shale oils (ammonium bituminosulphonates, Ichthyols) on enzymes of polyenoic fatty acid metabolism. Arch Dermatol Res, 286(3-4): S. 137-41.
2: Diezel, W., Schewe, T., Rohde, E., Rosenbach, T., and Czarnetzki, B.M. 1992. Ammoniumbituminosulfonat (Ichthyol®) Antientzündliche Wirkung und Hemmung des Enzyms 5-Lipoxygenase. Hautarzt, 43(12): S. 772-4.
3: Schiffmann S., Gunne S., Henke M., Ulshöfer T., Steinhilber D., Sethmann A., and M.J., P. 2021. Sodium Bituminosulfonate Used to Treat Rosacea Modulates Generation of Inflammatory Mediators by Primary Human Neutrophils. J Inflamm Res., 14: S. 2569-2582.

Bacteria can penetrate the skin through the smallest of injuries, they can multiply and trigger a skin inflammation. Typical bacterial skin diseases include nail bed inflammation, hair root inflammation, (shaving) pimples, inflammation caused by splinters, deeper abscesses, and boils, but also include acne or contagious impetigo.

Dark and light-coloured Ichthyol® effectively fight bacteria^4,5.
So-called antibiotic-resistant germs (MRSA), for which antibiotics are no longer effective, are spreading more and more and not only found in hospitals.
Key to note : the Ichthyol® active ingredients also fight resistant germs⁶.

Since dark Ichthyol® can penetrate the skin particularly well, it is used in the “drawing ointment” Ichtholan® to treat deeper skin inflammations⁷. Light-coloured Ichthyol® PALE is used e.g. in medicines against Impetigo (Ichthotop®Gel) or also acne (e.g. Aknichthol® Creme).

4: Pantke, R. 1965. Bakteriologische Untersuchung von Arzneimitteln aus Schieferöl. Arzneim.-Forsch. (Drug Res.), 15: S. 570-573.
5: Idelevich, E.A. and Becker, K. 2020. In Vitro Activity of Sodium Bituminosulfonate: Susceptibility Data for the Revival of an Old Antimicrobial. Microb Drug Resist, 26(11): S. 1405-1409.
6: Sethmann, A. 2022. Update zur antibiotischen Behandlung unkomplizierter Hautabszesse. Evid Self Med, 2 (220036).
7: Fink, S., Sethmann, A., Hipler, U.C., and Wiegand, C. 2022. In vitro investigation of the principle of action of ammonium bituminosulfonate ointments on a 3D skin model. Eur J Pharm Sci, 172: S. 106152.

Chronic eczema-like syndromes, such as atopic dermatitis or eczema itself, are usually accompanied by excruciating itching. Cortisone has a relieving effect and is often used. However, the extensive and/or frequent use of cortisone creams or gels can also lead to side effects, especially in children.

Ichthyol® Pale has a demonstrated alleviating impact and can be an effective and well-tolerated cortisone alternative for mild atopic dermatitis or eczema⁸. Learn more about Ichthosin® cream here.

Are you looking for a solution to your skin irritation problem? For example itchy scalp, seborrheic eczema or itching in the anal area? Click here to go to the product search

8: Korting, H.C., Schöllmann, C., Cholcha, W., Wolff, L., and Collaborative Study, G. 2010. Efficacy and tolerability of pale sulfonated shale oil cream 4 % in the treatment of mild to moderate atopic eczema in children: a multicentre, randomized vehicle-controlled trial. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 24(10): S. 1176-82.

Used in highly concentrated ointments, dark Ichthyol® has an analgesic effect. Pain in knee joints -arthrosis (gonarthrosis) can be effectively reduced with Ichtholan® special ointment. Ichtholan 50% ointment can also be used to relieve bruises and sprains. This analgesic effect also plays an important role in the treatment of painful abscesses and boils with Ichtholan® 50% ointment.

A clinical study of patients with open ulcers on the lower leg (Ulcus cruris venosum) demonstrated that wounds heal faster when treated with Ichthyol® pale in a gel form (Leukichtan® Gel)⁹.
Studies show that the active ingredient stimulates the reproduction of skin cells and promotes blood circulation¹⁰.

9: Beckert, S., Warnecke, J., Zelenkova, H., Kovnerystyy, O., Stege, H., Cholcha, W., Konigsrainer, A., and Coerper, S. 2006. Efficacy of topical pale sulfonated shale oil in the treatment of venous leg ulcers: a randomized, controlled, multicenter study. J Vasc Surg, 43(1): S. 94-100.
10: Engst, R., Grimm, V., Ring, J., Holland, B., Wilbrand, G., and Warnecke, J. 2001. Natriumbituminosulfonat (helles sulfoniertes Schieferöl) zeigt antiseptische und proliferations fördernde Wirksamkeit bei der Wundheilung. derm Praktische Dermatologie, 7.

Anti-sebaceous properties

Powerfully effective, characteristic odour, black in colour

Ichthyol® active ingredients are obtained from naturally sourced shale oils. The therapeutic properties of these natural substances are based on organically bound sulphur compounds that smell characteristically “tar-like”. Dark Ichthyol® also gives rise to the highly concentrated Ichtholan® ointments that have an intense black colour.

Important Information

Ichtholan® 20 %, 50 % and Ichtholan® special are darkly pigmented ointments. In use, they should always be covered with an adhesive plaster or bandage to avoid stains on clothing. However, if something should go wrong: Here are tips on how to remove stains
Only Ichtholan® is dark – all other Ichthyol® medicines are pale in colour.
Ichthyol® is not tar! Despite the “tar-like” smell, the active ingredients of Ichthyol® have nothing to do with tar but are very well tolerated and safe to use. Further information
The Ichthyol® active ingredients have no connection to petroleum.

The term “oil shale rock” is not clearly defined and is therefore used for very different types of rock, including rock in which petroleum occurs. The Ichthyol® active ingredients are extracted from Jurassic limestone, which is interspersed with organic substances – colloquially also called “oil stone” or “oil shale rock”. The “shale oil” used to produce the active substances is extracted from the Alpine rock by dry distillation. This shale oil is fundamentally different from petroleum, which is present in liquid form in deep rock layers and is brought to the surface by pumping, partly by fracking.

From a rock to a medicinal product

The production of Ichthyol® active ingredients is a complex, multi-stage process.

Quarrying of the rock
The extraction of the oil shale rock takes place in the company’s own mine in Orbagnoux, located in the French Alps. The responsible treatment of nature has always been our top priority – learn more (link to text “Responsible treatment of nature”).
Generation of shale oil
To obtain the valuable shale oil, the rock is heated to 450 degrees Celsius in the absence of air; this process is known as “dry distillation”.
Manufacture of Ichthyol® active ingredients
In Seefeld, Tyrol, the oil is further processed. By means of vacuum distillation, the oil is separated into a high-boiling dark fraction and a low-boiling light fraction. Various careful processing steps transform the distillates into the active ingredients Ichthyol®LIGHT and Ichthyol® DARK. Manufacturing steps are carried out under strictly controlled conditions (“GMP”), resulting in active ingredients of the highest purity for use in medicinal products.
The production of medicinal products and formulation ingredients takes place at the company’s headquarters in Hamburg

Ichthyol® is not a tar

	Ichthyol® active ingredient	Coal tar
Raw material	Oil shale from phytoplankton	Coal from terrestrial plants
Dry distillation	At lower temperatures (approx. 450°C)	At high temperatures (approx. 1.000°C)
Active ingredient	Shale oil, sulphonated	Coal tar
Properties	Salts in aqueous solution Water-soluble Rich in sulphur Low in phenols	Mixture of hydrocarbons and phenols Not water-soluble Low in sulphur Rich in phenols
Contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (benzo[a]pyrene)	High purity ( < 0.01 ppm)	High contamination ( > 5.000 ppm )
Influence on the genetic material	No	Indications of genetic alteration
Carcinogenic	No	Indications of carcinogenic effects