[Review] Skincare: Zam-Buk Medicated Ointment

My skin used to be really smooth that doesn't have any marks (if any, it's not obvious and not too crowded), when I was 17, out of sudden, the marks just showed up happily and it really took long time to remove a scar, it will take nearly 1 year and once it's gone, other scars will pop up again. I was really struggle to get rid of it and apparently it made me lose my confidence in wearing short pants or dress.

I tried different kinds treatment, from bio-oil, different kinds of oil that could improve the appearance of scars, spa, scrub, etc. Until I really stop trying and just to let it be. Many kinds of treatment I tried, soap with 5.5 pH, solution, dettol, etc.. But still, doesn't give much difference. And it also made me realise that my skin (legs and arms) become a sensitive type! Worst part, I'm a kind of person who is not patient and I'm really expecting a quick result.

Recently, I want to try again, by changing my soap to Cetaphil and I remember, Zam-Buk! When the modern stuffs doesn't work with me, why don't I try to go to traditional way. So that was on my mind, I just tried to apply it and I read few articles whether Zam-Buk really could works to relief scars, etc..

Zam-Buk is my childhood favorite items when I fell down left some bruise and wounds. My mum or my grandma always applied zam-buk before betadine. It really helped to soothe any pains and sore.

Here's the ingredients for Zam-Buk and the function of each ingredients.
Eucalyptus Oil 5.02%
Camphor 1.76%
Thyme Oil 0.50%
Colophony 2.51%

Zam-Buk Ingredients 

Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oils in the trade are categorized into three broad types according to their composition and main end-use: medicinal, perfumery and industrial.The health benefits of eucalyptus oil are well-known and wide ranging, and its properties include anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, decongestant, deodorant, antiseptic, antibacterial, stimulating, and other medicinal qualities. Eucalyptus essential oil is colorless and has a distinctive taste and odor.
Wounds: Eucalyptus essential oil has antiseptic qualities because of its germicidal quality. Upon exposure to air, ozone is formed which is a well-researched antiseptic. Therefore, eucalyptus oil is used for healing wounds, ulcers, burns, cuts, abrasions and sores. It is also an effective salve for insect bites and stings. Furthermore, besides soothing the affected area, it also protects the open wound or irritated area from developing infections from microbial activity and exposure to the air.
Lice: Due to its well-known qualities as a bug repellent and natural pesticide, it is frequently used as a natural treatment of lice. Some of the mainstream treatments of lice can be very severe and damaging to the hair, as well as packed with dangerous chemicals that you don’t want being absorbed into your skin, so combing a few drops of eucalyptus oil through a lice-infested head is a much better and healthier solution.
Skin care: Eucalyptus oil is often applied topically to treat skin infections.

Source: https://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/natural-essential-oils/health-benefits-of-eucalyptus-essential-oil.html


Camphor
Camphor is readily absorbed through the skin and produces a feeling of cooling similar to that of menthol, and acts as slight local anesthetic and antimicrobial substance. There are anti-itch gels and cooling gels with camphor as the active ingredient. Camphor is an active ingredient (along with menthol) in vapor-steam products, such as Vicks VapoRub.
Camphor was used in ancient Sumatra to treat sprains, swellings, and inflammation. Camphor is a component of paregoric, an opium/camphor tincture from the 18th century. People use camphor topically to relieve pain and reduce itching. It has also been used to treat fungal infections of the toenail, warts, cold sores, hemorrhoids, and osteoarthritis.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-709-camphor.aspx?activeingredientid=709&activeingredientname=camphor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camphor

Thyme Oil 
Thyme is a common herb and is generally used as a condiment or spice. Besides that, thyme is also used in herbal and domestic medicines. Thyme is botanically known as Thymus Vulgaris. The medicinal properties of thyme come mainly from its essential oils which are extracted through steam distillation of fresh flowers and leaves. 
There are many different kinds of benefit from Thyme, but here's the most relevant one: 
Skin product – Thyme oil can help tone aged skin and prevent acne outbreaks.
Home remedy – Thyme oil is used to relieve and treat problems like gout, arthritis, wounds, bites, and sores, water retention, menstrual and menopausal problems, nausea and fatigue, respiratory problems (like colds), skin conditions (oily skin and scars), athlete’s foot, hangovers, and even depression.

Source: http://articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/thyme-oil.aspx
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/thyme-essential-oil.html

Colophony
Colophony is the name for resins extracted from conifers like the pine, spruce and larch.
Source:http://apps.kemi.se/flodessok/floden/kemamne_eng/kolofonium_eng.htm
Rosin is an ingredient in printing inks, photocopying and laser printing paper, varnishes, adhesives (glues), soap, paper sizing, soda, soldering fluxes, and sealing wax.
I'm not really sure what's the function in Zam-Buk, but it may be the agent that brings it into the form of creamy oil.

Source: http://apps.kemi.se/flodessok/floden/kemamne_eng/kolofonium_eng.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosin


Basically, I'm using Zam-Buk for:
- Reduce and remove the blue-black (ou-che) marks on the skin within a week
- Scars - new and old scars - to lighten up the marks
For the new scars and if it's still not dry, you have to apply Zam-Buk immediately, it really soothe the pain and also an antiseptic
- Some insects bites, it reduce itchiness within minutes 
- Some random allergies - usually happens to me when the weather is humid, hot and the dusty air
- It works miracles for random stuffs that appears on my skin that I had no idea to remove it


Recently my cousin told me that shes's using ZamBuk for acne too. Especially the big acne, she just apply it and the next 2-3 days it become smaller. So it works for acne too! <3 

Zam-Buk color

When you apply Zam-Buk, the consistency is creamy yet oily with green color like greasy feeling. At first it left sticky feeling on your skin, but usually it only last for about 2-3 hours. It has smell of eucalyptus and little bit of Thyme.

Result: I love it! It totally remove the blue-black marks, lighten the new and old scars within short period of time. Besides Zam-Buk actually I made a DIY Thyme Oil. I will share with you guys in my next post!

Zam-Buk is available at any drug store, Watsons, Guardian, but the price may be quite expensive, about SGD 6+. I bought mine in the market nearby my house, totally forgot the shop name, but if around your neighbourhood there is some shop sells beauty products - like shampoo, soap, moisturiser, etc, it should be available. I bought mine for less than SGD 3!

XOXO

Jess