Tetracycline ointment for acne on the face. Instructions for use, photos, reviews, price

Tetracycline was isolated in 1945, the first clinical trials of this substance date back to 1948. In modern medicine, it is prescribed both for oral administration and for external use in ointments for acne or eye diseases.

Description of the drug

Tetracycline is highly active against most gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, can affect some protozoa at high concentrations, and is practically harmless to molds and acid-fast bacteria.

In the treatment of skin and eye infections, tetracycline ointment is used, for acne - with a concentration of 3%, in ophthalmology - 1%. For oral administration, it is produced mainly in the form of coated tablets in a dosage of 100 mg.

What is included in tetracycline ointment

In dermatology for external use, it is used in the form of a 3% ointment containing:

• The active ingredient of tetracycline hydrochloride - in its pure form, is a crystalline powder of yellow color, odorless and with a bitter taste, poorly soluble in water and difficult in alcohols. Possesses antimicrobial and bacteriostatic action;
• Auxiliary components:
  • Lanolin - has an animal origin, is produced by the sebaceous glands of sheep, has a complex composition in the form of a mixture of fatty acids with high molecular weight, is close to the secretion of human sebaceous glands, is easily absorbed into the skin, acting on it softening;
  • Paraffin - inert to many chemicals. reagents are a substance of low viscosity, white, when oxidized, they form synthetic fatty acids used instead of natural ones, including in cosmetology and pharmaceuticals;
  • Ceresin - tasteless, odorless, waxy substance from white to brown color, insoluble in water, used as a thickener in the manufacture of various cosmetics;
  • Petrolatum - tasteless, oily, odorless, jelly-like liquid, purified almost transparent, with incomplete purification, its color changes from black to yellow. It mixes well with oils, but does not dissolve in alcohol and water. It is used as a fat base in creams, softens the skin and has a protective effect due to the formation of a film on the skin surface.

Effects of the ointment on the skin

When applied to a pimple, the ointment dries it literally within a few hours, while healthy skin does not dry out - the effect is achieved due to antibacterial effects, and not due to the presence of alkaloids, alcohols or other dehydrating elements.

Tetracycline in the form of an ointment is used to treat acne precisely because of its ability to destroy the synthesis of proteins in bacterial cells, since the cause of their appearance on the skin is most often "unfriendly" microorganisms.

The medicinal properties of this drug are manifested in relation to infectious infections caused by bacteria, both gram-positive and gram-negative.

Benefits of the tool

Tetracycline ointment has the following advantages:

• Convenient frequency of application (morning and evening);
• Affordable price in comparison with other drugs of similar action;
• Simple application for treatment;
• Effectiveness of application against many types of rashes;
• The variability of treatment methods (you can not smear, but use a bandage);

Disadvantages of the drug

Imperfections of the remedy include:

• Often causes allergic reactions;
• Cannot be used during pregnancy;
• Until completely absorbed into the skin, it appears under ultraviolet light in a bright yellow color;
• There are side effects.

Indications for the use of the ointment

Tetracycline ointment is applicable in the case of dermatological diseases such as:

• furunculosis,
• infections with purulent productive exudation,
• trophic ulcers,
• acne,
• acne,
• folliculitis,
• eczema with associated infection,
• streptococcal dermatitis.

Contraindications

Like any other antimicrobial antibiotic drug, tetracycline has an effect not only on pathological microorganisms, which means that its use can have negative consequences.

Critical contraindications:

• mycoses;
• severe forms of liver damage;
• renal failure;
• systemic disturbances in the work of the biliary tract;
• age up to 11 years;
• individual intolerance;
• does not apply to areas with burns or deep wounds;
• pregnancy and the period of breastfeeding;
• allergic reaction.

Adverse reactions to the action of the drug

Tetracycline is a rather aggressive substance and its external use can cause negative reactions in the form of:

• redness of the skin;
• burning sensation, itching;
• swelling;
• irritation of the skin;
• rarely: nausea and loss of appetite;
• with prolonged use, it is possible to develop hypersensitivity to sunlight, thrush.

Rules for using ointment for acne

Tetracycline ointment for acne is applied in two ways: directly on the lesions or using a gauze bandage

In any case, you must follow these rules:

• Be sure to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water before starting the procedure;
• Apply the ointment only to previously cleansed skin;
• The agent should completely cover the lesions with the capture of a small part of the healthy epidermis to prevent the spread of infection, point application is ineffective;
• If necessary, carry out hygiene and other procedures (shaving, use of decorative cosmetics) no earlier than 30 minutes after the treatment of the problem skin area with ointment.

If the ointment is applied directly to the skin, then the treatment should be repeated 2-3 times a day. In the case when gauze applications are used, the bandage can be changed once a day or every 12 hours - in the morning and in the evening. With regular use, on average, the positive effect becomes noticeable within a month.

The duration of the treatment course is individual for each specific case and, depending on the nature and severity of the disease, can last from 2-3 days to several months.

Allergy check

Tetracycline is a strong enough allergen, and acne ointment is no exception. Therefore, before starting treatment, you need to check how the skin reacts to the drug.

For this:

• Clean a 3-5 cm area of ​​skin on the back of the wrist;
• Apply a thin layer of ointment to the prepared area;
• Wait - the reaction can appear within a period from 10 minutes to half an hour;
• If during this time no redness, itching, sensation of dryness appear on the test area, the product can be used, there is no allergy.

Use during pregnancy and lactation

Tetracycline is dangerous for children under the age of 11, therefore, the use of this drug or its derivatives (including ointments) by women during breastfeeding is strictly prohibited. This substance has the ability to bind with calcium, which is safe for adults, but can cause serious damage to a developing body.

For this reason, it is not used during pregnancy either - getting into the fetal bloodstream with the mother's blood through the placenta, tetracycline can lead to disorders in the development and formation of the child's bone tissues.

Precautions when using the ointment

Standard safety measures when using the drug as an antibiotic:

• Do not use if contraindicated;
• Eliminate allergic reactions;
• Do not exceed the recommended dose;
• Avoid contact with mucous membranes and eyes.

When absorbed into the skin, tetracycline ointment gives it a yellowish tint, almost invisible to the naked eye., but clearly visible in the light of ultraviolet lamps. If the medicinal product is applied near the hairline and on the scalp, the hair at the roots, in the places of contact with the ointment, will turn yellow.

The substances that make up the basis of the tetracycline ointment (paraffin, lanolin and petrolatum) consist mainly of fatty acids. The consequence of this is that when the drug gets on the tissue, a greasy stain remains, which is difficult to remove.

Additionally, when using tetracycline ointment, the following precautions should be taken:

• Use the product with caution at the hair roots for natural blondes and those who lighten curls;
• Do not apply the product to the skin on the eve of visiting nightclubs, discos and other establishments where you can get under ultraviolet light;
• Do not allow clothing and bed linen to be contaminated with the ointment.

Interaction with other medicinal products

When taking tetracycline inside (in tablets), you cannot simultaneously take funds with metal ions (magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron preparations).

Sleeping and sedative drugs containing barbiturates reduce the antimicrobial activity of tetracycline, and simultaneous administration with penicillin drugs leads to an antagonistic effect (complete ineffectiveness of both drugs).

The concentration of tetracycline in acne ointment is very small - only 3%, which practically excludes the possibility of the active ingredient entering the systemic circulation and negative interaction with other drugs.

When used topically, tetracycline can be combined with corticosteroids or other drugs and substances to mitigate the aggressive effects of the antibiotic on the skin and reduce the risk of allergic reactions.

Acne face masks with tetracycline ointment

In order to enhance the positive effect of using tetracycline in the fight against acne, you can use it as part of face masks, combining this antibiotic with other products and drugs that are useful for skin health.

• Clay mask for all skin types:

Mix half a glass of black clay with the same amount of water, add 15 g (the volume of a tablespoon) of tetracycline ointment. Beat the mixture thoroughly. Apply to clean, dry face 1-2 times a week. Keep it on for 15 to 25 minutes, rinse with warm water, apply a moisturizer or nourishing agent.

• For oily skin:

Mix ointment and hydrogen peroxide in equal parts, add baby powder to make a gruel. Apply only to problem areas for no longer than 15 minutes and no more than 1 time in 3 days. If acne is purulent, it is recommended to add a few drops of calendula alcohol to this mixture.

• Universal talker for acne and "youthful" acne:

Add chloramphenicol (3 to 1) to the tetracycline ointment, dilute the resulting mixture with a solution of boric or salicylic acid until a liquid emulsion is obtained. Wipe your face at least 2 times a day. You can store the resulting solution for no more than 7 days in a cool, dark place.

The use of ointment for herpes

Herpes is a viral disease, but tetracycline ointment can significantly alleviate the course of the disease in combination with taking antiviral drugs (acyclovir) and for some time after.

This is due to the fact that if the appearance of characteristic vesicles on the skin is due to the presence of a viral infection, then an increase in the area of ​​the lesion is often associated with secondary bacterial infection of the weakened area.

To achieve an antibacterial effect, as well as to prevent the spread of herpes and suppuration of wounds, you should apply 3% tetracycline ointment to the affected areas with a thick layer at least 3 times a day until complete recovery.

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Opinion of doctors on the treatment of acne with tetracycline ointment

“Today there are many less aggressive therapeutic agents similar to tetracycline in their action. Although they are more expensive, the number of possible side effects and the number of allergic reactions to their use is much lower.

Antibiotic drugs can reduce the growth rate of bacteria, but other causes of acne must be considered, only antibiotics cannot defeat it. However, long-term antibiotic therapy entails a large number of potentially serious adverse reactions.

"Treating acne with tetracycline is yesterday!" Says children's dermatologist Dr. Joan Tamburro, who practices in Ohio.

In contrast, Debra Jaliman, MD and dermatologist with private practice in Manhattan, believes that: “While benzene peroxide or salicylic acid creams are the first to be recommended for acne, in some cases only topical antibiotics, including drugs tetracycline series. However, a specialist should appoint them. "

How many specialists - so many opinions. Some doctors continue to prescribe tetracycline ointment for acne, as a reliable and affordable remedy proven over the years. Others, on the contrary, consider this method of treatment outdated, giving preference to other drugs.

Drugs with a similar action

Tetracycline - not the only remedy for the treatment of acne, other antibiotic preparations for external use are effectively used to combat rashes. The closest in their action to tetracycline ointment are drugs such as erythromycin and clindamycin.

Erythromycin, like tetracycline, disrupts protein synthesis inside the pathological cell, thereby stopping the reproduction of harmful bacteria.

Clindamycin successfully counteract staphylococci, anaerobic bacteria and has an antimicrobial effect.

The choice of drugs for the treatment of acne and other rashes with antibacterial effect offered by the modern pharmaceutical industry is quite wide and represented, among other things, by such drugs as:

• "Dalatsin-gel" (active ingredient - clindamycin)
• "Clindovit" (active ingredient - clindamycin)
• Zerkalin (active ingredient - clindamycin)
• "Zinerit" (active ingredient - erythromycin)
• "Fucidin" (active ingredient - fusidic acid)
• "Metrogyl" (active ingredient - metronidazole)

Pricing table

Compared to other drugs for external use of a similar effect, tetracycline ointment still retains the lowest cost today.

On the one hand, the effectiveness of tetracycline ointment for external use in the fight against acne and purulent acne has been proven long-term successful medical practice, the drug is affordable and easy to use. On the other hand, it is not absolutely safe for the skin. It should not be used without first consulting a dermatologist.

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