Tetracycline ointment for acne

Almost every home medicine cabinet contains a set of proven remedies: iodine, hydrogen peroxide, analgin, aspirin, tetracycline ointment for slings. The latter is worth talking about in more detail.

Does tetracycline ointment help acne?

The answer to the question: does tetracycline ointment help against acne or not, we must start with the fact that before using it, you need to consult a doctor. Although such an ointment is available for sale: you can buy it at any pharmacy. It is produced packaged in aluminum tubes weighing 30 and 50 g. The price is quite affordable. However, for those who are allergic to a number of medications, such a remedy can be harmful. If force majeure circumstances do not allow you to consult a doctor, then you need to read the instructions for using tetracycline ointment with double attention. And test its effect yourself. It is easy to do: at night, apply a small amount of tetracycline ointment to the elbow from its inside. In the morning, you can check the test result: there will be no reaction, which means the ointment is suitable, you can lubricate acne with it.

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Indications tetracycline ointment for acne.

Tetracycline ointment is considered universal. Its main component is the antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride. The ointment successfully combats not only pimples, but also severe acne. It eliminates various inflammatory processes:

• purulent foci caused by staphylococcus and streptococcus;
• acne even in severe forms:
• folliculitis;
• infected eczema;
• trophic ulcer.

The principle of action of tetracycline ointment is stimulation of restoration of the wound surface by destruction of the pathogenic focus. Therefore, acne that appears on the skin is an indication for the use of tetracycline ointment.

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Pharmacodynamics

It is an antibiotic belonging to the tetracycline group of the same name. It is available in tablets with a dosage of 100 mg. It is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is aimed at inhibiting protein synthesis. It has a bacteriostatic effect, and in some cases (when taking a double dose), it can have a bactericidal effect.

It exhibits high activity against the main groups of microorganisms: these are gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms, and rickettsia. They can indirectly affect viruses by destroying them along with the affected cell. However, they should be used with caution, since this is a very strong drug that can, along with the therapeutic effect, also have a negative effect on the immune system, up to its complete destruction in case of overdose.

Tetracycline ointment has antibacterial and bacteriostatic effects against a large number of gram-positive (streptococci, with the exception of beta-hemolytic streptococci group A), gram-negative (Bartonella, Brucella, Listeria, etc.) and other (actinomycetes, chlamydia, clostridia, mycoplasma, fusobacteria, treponema) bacteria.

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Pharmacokinetics

The drug is well absorbed. About 66% is absorbed into the blood within the first 1-2 hours. Up to 65% of the substance binds to proteins in the plasma portion of the blood. Selective accumulation of the active substance occurs in the spleen and liver. Particles of the substance are excreted with feces and urine. Also, part of the substance can accumulate in tumors, if any. It is excreted from the body unchanged. Therefore, patients suffering from liver, kidney, and spleen diseases should take it with caution. It is also not recommended for people prone to allergic reactions or with a history of tumors. Tetracycline-based ointment has low absorption capacity, that is, it is practically not absorbed through the skin into the systemic bloodstream.

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Dosing and administration

There is no need to explain in detail that the ointment is intended for external use. But it will not be superfluous to emphasize some nuances or to indicate the most effective method of application and doses of tetracycline ointment for acne. It is easy to remember:

• First you need to cleanse the skin;
• apply the ointment in a thin layer;
• do not limit yourself to just the problem area, but also to the surrounding skin.

If the ointment is used after shaving, you must wait at least half an hour after shaving.

As for the result of acne treatment, tetracycline ointment will not work immediately. But if you use it correctly, you can forget about acne in a month. And one more thing: tetracycline ointment and a woman's usual makeup cannot act as a tandem: the amount of cosmetics will have to be greatly reduced. For a while, until the acne goes away.

There is another “plus”: overdose of tetracycline ointment for acne has not been confirmed.

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Use tetracycline ointment for acne. during pregnancy

A pregnant woman by definition receives a new physiological and psycho-moral status. Her main task is to give birth to a healthy child. Therefore, her lifestyle changes fundamentally. This also applies to taking certain medications that were effective and safe outside of pregnancy. Using tetracycline ointment for acne during pregnancy is an example of what should be excluded if we are talking about an expectant mother. You cannot use the ointment when the child is breastfed. It has been proven that tetracycline negatively affects the normal development of the embryo. There is also convincing evidence that tetracycline easily penetrates into breast milk. Therefore, the recommendations of an obstetrician-gynecologist observing a pregnant woman will definitely prohibit tetracycline ointment for acne.

Contraindications

The first contraindication for use is an allergic reaction, which was mentioned above, when the body does not tolerate the drug or one of its components. But there are still a number of factors that need to be taken into account. These are:

• impaired renal function;
• various types of fungal diseases; dosed, according to the doctor's recommendation, course of treatment for children and adolescents. Unsystematic and excessive use of ointment is harmful to the child's body.

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Side effects tetracycline ointment for acne.

Side effects include itching, burning, and redness. The instructions state that the drug should not be combined with milk or other dairy products, as this will destroy the antibiotic.

The drug is usually well tolerated. However, in exceptional cases, minor side effects are observed, manifested in the form of dyspeptic disorders, dysbacteriosis, dizziness, headache. In some cases, photophobia, increased photosensitivity, allergic reactions are observed. In most cases, it is necessary to prescribe antifungal drugs together with tetracycline.

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Interactions with other drugs

Tetracycline is not prescribed for increased individual sensitivity, intolerance to individual components of the drug. It should be taken with caution by patients with blood diseases. It is not recommended to combine with drugs containing metals, especially iron. When used simultaneously with penicillin, the activity of tetracycline decreases, up to its complete inactivation. It is also important to consider that tetracycline reduces the activity of contraceptives, increases the effectiveness of anticoagulants.

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Storage conditions

Although tetracycline ointment for acne is a must-have in a home medicine cabinet, its storage conditions are different: the ointment requires a fairly low temperature. Therefore, its place is in the refrigerator. Then there is a guarantee that tetracycline ointment for acne will work effectively throughout the entire expiration date specified by the manufacturer. And after its expiration, both this ointment and all expired medications cannot be used. As experience shows, there is more risk than benefit.

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