How to use magnesium sulfate paste - Pharmacist Virginia

Watch how to use magnesium sulfate paste with Pharmacist Virginia.
Watch next: • Pharmacist explains: M...
What do you use magnesium sulfate paste for?
- Minor skin infection - boil when a hair is trapped under the skin. If you have more than one boil in the same place, this is known as a carbuncle.
- Ingrown toenail - when your toe grows into the corner of your skin and it becomes red and puffy and swollen and painful
- Pain-free splinter on the surface of the skin - a small piece of wood, metal or glass under the skin, or a thorn from a plant, like roses or nettles, or thin hairs from a plant like a thistle or cactus, or broken China
What does magnesium sulfate paste look like?
- It is a separate white powder and a colourless, clear sticky liquid.
- You need to mix it together to make it into a paste.
How do you use magnesium sulfate paste?
- Get a clean flat stainless steel butter knife or spoon and clean it with soap and water, or an alcohol swab. Make sure you dry it with a clean towel or tissue.
- Mix the magnesium sulphate powder with the glycerol inside the pot.
- Mix it until you have a smooth white paste.
- Take a small amount with the flat clean and put it directly on the skin. Do not rub it in.
- Do not put your finger in the pot.
- Use a plaster or a dressing that does not stick, known as a non-adhesive dressing (with paper dressing tape to keep it in place), on top.
- Leave it for a few hours - around 6 to 12 hours - or overnight
- If you apply it in the morning, you can apply it again in the afternoon or evening.
- If it has been one day and the splinter is not fully out, you can put some more magnesium sulfate paste (with a new plaster or dressing pad and tape).
- When you have removed the splinter, hair, thorn or pus, you do not need to apply it again.
- If you have used magnesium sulfate paste for 2 days and it did not work, please see your doctor or pharmacist.
How does magnesium sulfate paste work?
- Magnesium sulfate paste works by osmosis. This means the water from your skin moves out and towards the paste and it carries the splinter, hair or pus with it to the surface of the skin where the paste is. This is why they call it a drawing agent as it pulls or draws up moisture and the splinter or pus to the surface of your skin.
- Your skin does not absorb the magnesium sulfate paste, so you can apply it around twice a day, or if it gets rubbed off.
When you should NOT use magnesium sulfate paste
- Do not use on an open wound - you can see the skin has separated or the skin is bleeding.
- Do not use it if you have an allergy to magnesium sulphate, phenol or glycerol.
Published October 2023
To review October 2025
Subscribe for free to see more videos
Please like the video by clicking the thumbs up icon to support the creation of more videos on this channel
Virginia is a pharmacist registered with the GPhC (General Pharmaceutical Council) in the UK and this channel is for informational purposes only. The information presented is accurate to the best of Virginia's knowledge. You are responsible for your own research and application of the information presented. Please see a healthcare professional such as a pharmacist, doctor or nurse as appropriate for your own health needs.
No promotions.
Just health education.

[@CillaJLynch]

Thanks for sharing. I have always wondered what dressing and tape was best for this application. Finally, now I know thanks a lot.

[@pharmacistv]

Thank you for your kind words - very happy to hear it was helpful for you 😊❤️

[@stephenmcginty2002]

Thanks for the video, I've got paronychia on my toe where the nail meets the skin - can you use magnesium sulphate paste for this?

[@pharmacistv]

It is possible to use magnesium sulphate paste to draw out pus for paronychia to relieve pain - but please see a podiatrist (foot specialist) to take a look and offer you advice as you may need antibiotics or other treatment. Thank you for watching and hope the infection clears 😊

[@ELLEHCIRNOSTUH]

Great video.

[@pharmacistv]

Thank you so much I really appreciate your kind words ♥️ 😊

[@Rose64-j5p]

I've got a small fine wood splinter that I can't actually see in my fingernail that's painful. Will it work for that if so spread the paste on top with a bandaid? I have the easier to apply Splintex in a tube

[@pharmacistv]

Heya, yes it should work for that, apply it and then put on a bandaid exactly like you said. Let me know how it goes :)

[@meghnacp3801]

Can it be used for burns...some hot water spilled on my chest...can I use it on my chest

[@pharmacistv]

No it's not for burns - I recommend you use antiseptic cream with chlorhexidine 😊

[@mrmugin]

Is this good for pilonidal sinus boil ?

[@pharmacistv]

No do not use this - please see your doctor for advice:)