Astringent is called that substance that produces constriction and dryness in organic tissues, thus reducing the secretion that they may experience. That is, put in simpler terms, the astringent, also known as styptic, once applied locally or topically, for example, on the skin, it will produce a tissue retraction effect, facilitating healing, or failing that, causing anti-inflammatory or anti-hemorrhagic actions in areas affected by a wound.
There are a wide variety of astringents, although among the ones we most commonly use, the following stand out: alum, tannin, cinchona, silver nitrate, zinc sulfate, saline and essential oil of cypress.
Meanwhile, it is called astringent taste to one that is experienced in the mouth and that reports a sensation of intense dryness accompanied by bitterness. Among the foods that are characterized precisely by manifesting that bitter, astringent taste that we mentioned, ripe fruits such as dates and persimmon; also, some tea infusions tend to produce this same bitter taste.
On the other hand, at the request of dermatology, more precisely the care and treatment of the face with oily characteristics, it is common to use lotions that contain astringent substances, since they have properties that facilitate the cleaning of the skin, freeing it completely of impurities and also reducing its seborrheic secretion. As we said, this type of lotions are indicated to those people who have oily or combination skin but with a tendency to oily.
