Isotrexin

Cleanliness of the skin in modern cosmetology is an important indicator of its grooming. Pimples, blackheads and acne not only spoil the appearance of the skin, but also cause psychological discomfort. How to deal with such unaesthetic external manifestations of hormonal imbalance and malfunctions of various organs and systems of the body? Both teenagers and adults, especially women, are concerned about this problem. Perhaps that is why the pharmaceutical industry pays so much attention to the release of effective means to combat acne, such as "Isotrexin".

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Indications Isotrexin

Isotrexin gel belongs to the category of local agents used in dermatology for the treatment of acne, and in its composition is a combined retinoid.

The indications for use of the drug indicate that it is intended for the treatment of acne of mild and moderate severity. Apparently, for severe acne with pronounced inflammation, stronger antibiotics will be needed, and not only for external use.

The medicinal product in the form of a gel is intended for the treatment of adult patients and adolescents over 12 years of age, for whom the problem of acne is most relevant due to hormonal changes in the body.

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Release form

"Isotrexin" is a combination drug with two main active ingredients, one of which is an antibiotic. Thus, it can be classified as an antimicrobial drug that relieves inflammation by destroying bacterial infection.

The medicine has only one form of release in the form of a light yellow gel, placed in tubes of various capacities. Tubes of 6, 25, 30, 40 or 50 g are placed in cardboard packs, in which they are sold.

The drug is intended for external use. 1 g of gel contains 20 mg of the antibiotic erythromycin and 500 mg of the second active substance, which is isotretinoin - one of the forms of vitamin A with increased biological activity. Excipients are presented in the form of anhydrous ethanol, hydroxypropyl cellulose (viscosity stabilizer of the drug) and butylhydroxytoluene (antioxidant).

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Pharmacodynamics

"Isotrexin" is a combination drug with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiseborrheic (eliminates flaking and itching) and keratolytic (exfoliates dead cells) action.

Such a wide spectrum of action of the drug is provided by the mutual action of two main components - erythromycin and isotretinoin.

Erythromycin is considered an antibiotic from the group of macrolides, which have the least toxicity. It has a pronounced antibacteriostatic and some bactericidal effect. The bacteriostatic effect of erythromycin is due to its ability to inhibit protein synthesis in pathogenic bacteria, as a result of which they lose the ability to grow and reproduce, and the population of pathogenic microorganisms gradually decreases. In the case of acne, the antibiotic affects the cellular structures of Propionebacterium acnes, which provoke the appearance of acne.

With all this, erythromycin has both antibacterial and non-bacterial activity, which is manifested in the relief of inflammation symptoms.

As for isotretinoin, although it is an antibiotic, it still contributes to the fight against acne. As an active form of vitamin A, it regulates the growth and differentiation (division, acquisition of a certain structure and functions) of epithelial cells. But most importantly, it inhibits the production of sebum secreted by the sebaceous glands and regulates its composition. But acne is formed as a result of increased production of sebum secreted by the sebaceous glands, which clogs pores and causes inflammation.

Isoretinoin prevents the appearance of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads typical of adolescence), inhibits the keratinization of hair follicles, and suppresses the growth and inflammation of existing acne. It turns out that it not only fights existing acne, but also prevents the appearance of new ones.

It is worth noting that isotretinoin is considered effective in combating comedones, which are characterized by mild inflammation, while erythromycin helps eliminate more serious inflammatory processes in mild to moderate acne.

There is a proven theory that erythromycin can trigger superinfections or strains resistant to its effects. But it is isotretinoin that makes it effective against the above strains, helping to combat secondary infections in parallel.

Pharmacokinetics

Skin penetration and systemic blood flow of both active substances are very insignificant. At the same time, erythromycin is not detected in the blood plasma at all, and isotretinoin is present there in negligible quantities.

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Dosing and administration

The drug "Isotrexin" is used only for external use. This means that for therapeutic purposes it should be applied only to the skin in the area of acne localization. The gel is spread on the skin in a thin layer without subsequent rubbing.

Doctors recommend performing the manipulations twice a day. It is better to do this in the morning before applying care or decorative cosmetics, and then in the evening, after the face has been thoroughly cleansed of it and other impurities.

The gel should be applied only to clean skin without dust and makeup. Makeup can be applied to skin covered with the gel only after the latter has been completely absorbed. Therapy with the preparation can be combined with the use of moisturizing cosmetics, but the use of scrubs during this period should be avoided.

The duration of treatment is a purely individual matter, but you should not expect immediate results from the drug. In some cases, the acne healing process can take up to 1.5-2 months. Doctors should warn patients who have been prescribed this drug about this in advance.

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Use Isotrexin during pregnancy

Despite the insignificant absorption of active substances, the use of Isotrexin gel during pregnancy is considered undesirable. This is clearly indicated in the instructions by the manufacturer of this drug.

Contraindications

Despite the apparent safety of the external remedy for acne treatment, there are some contraindications to its use, associated not even with the presence of an antibiotic in the drug, but with the presence of the retinoid isotretinoin.

Such contraindications regarding the use of the drug "Isotrexin" include:

• children and adolescents up to 12 years of age (due to insufficient study of the effect of isotretinoin on a growing organism),
• the period of pregnancy planning and waiting for the birth of the baby,
• breastfeeding infants.

In addition, the gel is not recommended for use if there is increased sensitivity of the body to at least one of the components of the drug, as well as if the integrity of the skin is damaged. Do not apply the drug to the burn surface, even if it is a slight sunburn, to avoid severe skin irritation.

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Side effects Isotrexin

Isotretinoin, as one of the forms of vitamin A, is unlikely to cause any unusual reactions when applied to the skin. Erythromycin is another matter. It is precisely with it that many side effects are associated that are possible when using the drug "Isotrexin". These include:

• allergic local reactions in the form of peeling and itching,
• photosensitivity, or increased sensitivity to sunlight,
• Sometimes there is a disturbance of the stool in the form of diarrhea.

When applied to the skin, a person may feel a slight but unpleasant tingling or burning sensation. This reaction is a normal variant, it is associated with a skin burn and passes fairly quickly, and soon with subsequent uses of the drug, such a reaction disappears altogether.

If the burning sensation does not disappear, but is accompanied by swelling and significant redness of the skin, the use of the drug should be discontinued. The doctor should be informed about the reaction that has occurred, so that he may reconsider his prescription.

Since the drug "Isotrexin" causes increased sensitivity to light, after applying it to the skin it is not advisable to be in direct sunlight or use the services of a solarium. You will have to wait with this pleasure.

Some unusual reactions may also be associated with one of the additional components of Isotrexin - butylhydroxytoluene. These may be local reactions in the form of redness or peeling, manifestations of contact dermatitis, and if the drug accidentally gets into the eyes or mucous membranes, it causes irritation.

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Overdose

As for drug overdose, due to the fact that the product is applied only to the skin, and the absorption of the active ingredients is very insignificant, such a phenomenon is almost completely excluded.

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Interactions with other drugs

As strange as it may seem, even external medications tend to react with other medications, and interaction with other drugs often leads to very unpleasant consequences.

Manufacturers and doctors do not recommend using drugs from the retinoid group (vitamin A preparations) in parallel with Isotrexin. The same applies to other drugs that have a keratolytic and exfoliative (peeling) effect.

In order not to reduce the effectiveness of the acne drug containing isotretinoin, it is not recommended to use tetracycline antibacterial drugs or steroid hormones (GCS) together with it. And in combination with tetracycline, the photosensitivity reaction may increase, which will lead to severe sunburn.

Treatment with Isotrexin cannot be combined with other acne treatments. This is especially true for dosage forms containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. This restriction is associated with a high risk of developing side effects in the form of severe skin irritation and skin swelling.

For the same reason, during the period of gel therapy, it is not recommended to use lotions that contain alcohol or citrus extract.

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Storage conditions

Isotrexin gel does not require special storage conditions, but like any medicine, especially one containing antibiotics, it should be kept out of the reach of children.

The gel can be stored at room temperature. If the room temperature rises above 25 degrees, the medicine should be placed in a cooler place to avoid premature spoilage.

Speaking about the effectiveness of the drug "Isotrexin" it is worth recalling that complete elimination of pimples and acne is possible only if the cause that caused their appearance is eliminated. If it is a hormonal imbalance in adolescence, the gel will, of course, help to cope with its external manifestations, but the treatment of other pathologies will have to be dealt with closely before it is possible to get rid of unaesthetic spots on the skin forever.

Special instructions

To avoid skin irritation, Isotrexin gel should be applied carefully and gently to sensitive skin areas. This includes areas of skin around the eyes, mouth and neck.

Some side effects of the drug may not become apparent until 1 or 2 weeks after the start of therapy. If skin irritation occurs, the use of the drug should be stopped for some time until the symptoms subside. If the irritation does not subside for a long time or the symptoms reappear when the drug is reapplied, you should consult a doctor so that he can prescribe a different treatment.

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Shelf life

The shelf life of acne medication in the form of a gel, provided it is stored away from sunlight according to the manufacturer's instructions, is 2 years.

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