Erythromycin ointment

Treatment of acne always takes quite a long time, especially if these lesions are caused by bactericidal and pathogenic organisms. At the same time, external preparations, cosmetics and various medications may not affect pathogens.

In these cases, the doctor may recommend using an antibiotic for external use - Erythromycin ointment. This remedy has been used for a long time to treat pimples and acne. It has a lot of positive reviews, because after its use all possible lesions disappear, and the skin becomes clean, fresh, healthy.

Description

Typically, many recommend the use of antibiotics in cases where pimples and acne on the surface of the skin are accompanied by increased bacterial infection and sometimes become chronic.

Often in these cases it is recommended to use Erythromycin ointment. Erythromycin belongs to the group of macrolides and has a wide spectrum of effects. This component has a detrimental effect on the synthesis of proteins in the cells of microorganisms, as a result of which the growth of bacteria slows down and completely stops.

During treatment with the use of this drug, inflammatory processes are eliminated, redness is eliminated, and the purulent contents of acne are resolved. The positive effect eliminates all rashes and prevents their reoccurrence.

Instructions for use

Before application, the eye ointment is cleaned with a furatsilin solution.
Before using erythromycin ointment, you should consult your ophthalmologist. The doctor will determine the therapeutic period according to the type and severity of the disease. According to the annotation, for diseases of the visual organs, it should be applied to the lower eyelid three times a day. Before using the medication, the affected eye must be treated with a medicinal decoction or solution of furatsilin. One procedure will require 0.2 g of medication. When the condition improves, the ointment is used 1-2 times a day. If the drug does not work after 5 days, a replacement is selected, since the pathogens have developed resistance to the active substance. The duration of the treatment course is no more than 14 days. To treat trachoma, the drug should be used up to 5 times a day. Course duration is up to 3 months.

What actions does

Erythromycin is a completely safe antibiotic that normalizes the number of bacteria, quickly eliminates unpleasant symptoms and completely eliminates all manifestations of the disease.

Note! Erythromycin ointment has a strong bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect. Due to this, it quickly destroys all gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

When using this antibiotic, the following positive effects are noted:

redness decreases;
with regular use, increased rashes completely disappear and do not appear again;
the constituent components penetrate deep into the skin and have a detrimental effect on harmful microorganisms, and also remove dirt and all toxic substances;
the antibiotic helps reduce the production of sebum, so after its use the oily sheen of the skin is eliminated, on the contrary, it becomes smooth, elastic, and firm;
The ointment has a cleansing effect, it removes all the spots and scars that remain after acne and acne.

Indications

Before you start using Erythromycin ointment, you should carefully study its main indications. The instructions for this drug indicate the following indications:

To eliminate teenage acne;
Helps get rid of skin lesions with a purulent structure;
For the treatment of infectious processes;
Removes comedones with inflammation;
To relieve and eliminate the symptoms of burns;
Eliminates all signs of trophic ulcers;
For the treatment of wounds with an open structure.

How to use it correctly

Before you start using Erythromycin ointment for acne, it is recommended that you carefully study the recommendations that are described in detail in the instructions. Still, this drug is an antibiotic, so it must be used correctly.

When applying, the following rules must be taken into account:

before using the ointment, the skin should be thoroughly washed, cleaned and dried;
the ointment is applied to the surface of the face in the form of a thin layer, and on areas with lesions this product can be applied in a thicker layer;
rubbing in the ointment is not recommended because increased irritation may occur;
It is best to leave the ointment on the skin after application so that it is absorbed on its own. After 15-20 minutes, the residue can be washed off with warm water;
It is recommended to apply up to 3 times a day, the last application should be done before bed. The ointment is left overnight, during which time it is completely absorbed into the skin;
The maximum course of treatment can last almost 3 months. But many reviews note that the complete elimination of all acne, rashes, and blemishes after them occurs within 3 weeks.

The first results can be seen after 5-7 days - the skin becomes cleansed and its color evens out. In addition, after a week of use, existing pimples dry out and gradually disappear.

Erythromycin ointment is an inexpensive drug for external treatment of skin and eye infections.
According to the instructions, it is used as an eye ointment and an ointment for acne; it is prescribed for the eyes and skin instead of penicillin if a person is allergic to antibiotics of the penicillin group.

Erythromycin is a substitute for the penicillin component, which has a milder effect and is approved for use in children from the first days of life.

Composition of the ointment

Erythromycin ointment contains the antibiotic erythromycin . Its concentration is 1%. It has an effect similar to penicillin.

It is a macrolide - that is, it belongs to the safest group of antibacterial drugs and is characterized by minimal toxicity.

Erythromycin is less likely to cause adverse allergic reactions and is better tolerated by patients of all ages than penicillin. Therefore, ointment with erythromycin is prescribed even to newborn children.

Erythromycin has a bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect (bacteriostatic - stops the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, bactericidal - causes their complete death). It stops protein synthesis in the cell that causes the infection and thereby inhibits the further growth of pathogens.

Basically, erythromycin is used against gram-positive bacteria ( staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci, corynebacteria, trachoma
– this pathogen causes infectious inflammation of the eyes, which can lead to blindness).

As well as some gram-negative microorganisms - gonococci, meningococci, Legionella, respiratory mycoplasma, ureplasma, chlamydia, treponemes (the causative agent of syphilis)

, as well as dysentery and whooping cough bacillus.

Erythromycin has no effect against sexual mycoplasmosis and is weakly effective against Haemophilus influenzae infection.

Erythromycin has good penetrating ability (in muscles its concentration reaches the same value as in blood).

Erythromycin skin and eye ointment

Erythromycin ointment is produced by many pharmaceutical companies. It has two external forms - ointment for the skin and ointment for the eyes.

Both forms contain the same concentration of the active substance (in 1 g of ointment - 10,000 units of antibiotic

They differ in their base - the ointment contains petroleum jelly, and the eye gel contains lanolin and sodium disulfite. Therefore, the eye ointment has a light yellow tint, and the skin ointment has a brown-yellow color.

Skin ointment - used to treat various inflammations of the skin and subcutaneous soft tissues. Ophthalmic – for inflammation of the eye tissues. For a more detailed description of the list of inflammations for which skin and eye ointments are used, look at the instructions for these two drugs.

Erythromycin eye ointment

Eye ointment with erythromycin is used for infectious eye diseases. It is important to know which infectious agent caused the inflammation. Ointment with erythromycin is effective against those pathogens that are sensitive to this antibiotic.

Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the inner surface of the eyelids).

Note: erythromycin ointment for conjunctivitis can be used even in newborns.

Blepharitis (inflammation of the edge of the lower or upper eyelid).
Keratitis (inflammation of the transparent surface membrane of the eyeball). If left untreated, keratitis leads to decreased vision and clouding of the cornea (the so-called cataract).
In the treatment of trachoma (purulent inflammation of the lower or upper part of the cornea, located under the lower or upper eyelid, often caused by chlamydia). Trachoma also causes corneal clouding and blindness. During the treatment of trachoma, it is necessary to open the resulting purulent follicles.
In the treatment of barley (purulent inflammation of the ciliary bulb).

When treating eye inflammation, the ointment is placed behind the lower or upper eyelid. The number of deposits per day is determined by the extent of the infection. For conjunctivitis, the ointment is applied 2 or 3 times during the day, for trachoma - 4 or 5 times.

Note: erythromycin eye ointment is used for three months in the treatment of trachoma, and for 2 to 3 weeks in the treatment of conjunctivitis.

Skin ointment

Instructions for use of erythromycin ointment regulate its use for various infections of the skin and soft tissues.

For pustules and acne, for the treatment of infected bedsores, burns and frostbite, for any damage to the skin with subsequent infection.

For effective treatment, it is important to understand that erythromycin is used when the wound is inflamed and has suppuration .

If the wound is not infected, if there is no pus, then there is no need to use an antibiotic. To speed up healing, you can get by with a regenerating composition (panthenol spray, solcoseryl gel, sea buckthorn oil)
.
And to prevent infection, treat the wound with antiseptic solutions (peroxide, brilliant green, Castellani paint, iodine)
.

External erythromycin ointment is applied to inflamed areas of the skin 2-3 times a day for one to two months.

It is important to know that long-term use of erythromycin ointment (like any other composition with an antibiotic) leads to addiction . Pathogenic bacteria adapt to the action of erythromycin and continue to multiply in its presence.

Vivid examples of the development of resistance (stability) are the following facts. According to Japanese statistics, 60% of pneumococcal strains are resistant to erythromycin. In Finland, resistance to this antibiotic was detected in 45% of streptococcal strains. The tendency to increase the resistance of pathogenic microorganisms increases after the active administration of erythromycin to children.

Erythromycin in cosmetology: acne treatment

The use of erythromycin ointment for acne is due to its anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effect . This remedy helps with stable use (leads to the death of all pathogenic bacteria). Therefore, you should not hope for a quick effect; you need to smear pimples and acne with ointment for one to two months.

In addition to acne, ointment with an antibacterial composition can be used for other skin inflammations with ulcers and boils. The ointment is not used in the treatment of non-infectious inflammations (diaper rash, dermatitis)

, as well as for the treatment of skin rashes of viral origin
(varicella, herpetic, rubella)
.

Erythromycin ointment for dermatitis can be used if a bacterial infection is added to the skin inflammation. The situation is similar with the treatment of burns and frostbite. They should be treated with erythromycin ointment if an infection occurs or pus appears.

In other cases, when there is no infection, you should not use “weapons of mass destruction”

– ointment with an antibacterial composition (erythromycin).

Erythromycin and adenoids

Erythromycin nasal ointment is prescribed for the treatment of adenoids in the initial stage . It is effective when enlarged adenoids are accompanied by inflammation of the sinus mucosa (runny nose). In this case, the antibiotic acts on the source of the infection and treats the inflammation.

If the cause of the enlargement of the adenoids is the proliferation of lymphoid tissue without the presence of an infectious agent, then the use of antibacterial ointment will be ineffective.

Erythromycin ointment in gynecology

The use of erythromycin in gynecology is indicated for the treatment of inflammation of the female genital organs. Moreover, the erythromycin composition is effective if the pathogen is of a bacterial nature and is sensitive to the action of the antibiotic.

most often used to treat vulvitis and vaginitis (inflammation of the external genitalia and vagina). The ointment is applied to a cotton swab and bandage and inserted into the vagina at night. Treatment time is 14 days with a break of 7 days and a second course of treatment (14 days, if necessary).

Note: treatment with erythromycin, like other antibiotics, can lead to candidiasis (thrush). To prevent candidiasis, it is necessary to restore the bacterial flora of the vagina.

Using ointment during pregnancy

Erythromycin ointment during pregnancy is used only as prescribed by a doctor . It is important to understand that this antibiotic crosses the placenta and enters breast milk. Therefore, the prescription and use of this drug must be competent.

This remedy should not be used in the first half of pregnancy (local use of a bacteriostatic substance can pass it into the general bloodstream and through the placenta).

Due to the fact that there are no systemic studies and sufficient data on the effect of erythromycin on the fetus, the drug is used with great caution.

Even in the second half of pregnancy, erythromycin ointment is prescribed only in cases of urgent need, when it is impossible to do without this remedy.

Note: in medical terminology the phrase is often used that a drug can be used if the risk from the consequences of infection is higher than the risk from complications of treatment with this drug.” This phrase applies to any bacterial preparations, including erythromycin ointment. Erythromycin ointment is an antibiotic, and its use should be balanced, competent and meaningful.

Children and erythromycin

Erythromycin ointment for children is approved for treatment from the first days of life (if indicated and necessary). Erythromycin ointment is prescribed for infants to treat skin and eye inflammation.

It is used in the treatment of birth infections when the baby is infected while passing through the birth canal. Often, an infection of the birth canal spreads to the skin of the face and mucous membranes of the eyes (causes conjunctivitis)

For its treatment, erythromycin ointment is prescribed.

Note: external treatment with erythromycin for newborns is prescribed if there is no severe jaundice.

Analogs

Erythromycin ointment has no direct analogues in the form of erythromycin ointment. There are similar drugs in the form of solutions for injection (these are eriderm, erythromycin phosphate

And there are external ointment preparations with a similar effect and a different active ingredient. An example of such a drug is tetracycline ointment .

Which is better - tetracycline or erythromycin ointment?

Tetracycline ointment contains an antibiotic of a different group. It has more side effects and therefore is not prescribed to newborns and infants. Tetracycline ointment is generally not prescribed to children under 11 years of age .
Tetracycline is a stronger antibiotic. In addition, the content of tetracycline in the ointment is 3%, and erythromycin – 1%. This also affects the effectiveness of treatment of the infection and the number of allergic reactions.
With tetracycline, side effects are stronger and more frequent (redness, itching, burning and other allergic reactions to the antibiotic). Therefore, the use of tetracycline ointment should be justified by the extent of the infection and the complexity of treating the inflammation.

And one more thing: the price of tetracycline ointment is higher than the composition with erythromycin.

Conclusions:

Tetracycline is not suitable for use in children. This is a drug for adults.
Tetracycline is used to treat widespread, severe skin or eye inflammation.

Reviews

Vasilisa, 17 years old, Fokino

I read that erythromycin ointment is used for acne. I smeared it on my face at night. In the morning, the acne actually became noticeably smaller. They say that the ointment should not be used for a long time. What should I do if acne appears constantly?

Gleb, 20 years old, Kislovodsk

Conjunctivitis was treated with erythromycin ointment. It's inexpensive and really heals. I recommend the ointment to friends and acquaintances.

Source: //vse-mazi.ru/eritromiczinovaya_maz.html

Contraindications and side symptoms

Before use, be sure to study the contraindications, but there are not many of them:

Should not be used while pregnant;
Contraindicated for use during breastfeeding;
It is not recommended to apply if there is an individual intolerance to the constituent components;
Should not be used by children under 10 years of age.

Important! In rare cases, allergic reactions may occur - the appearance of a rash on the surface of the skin, swelling of the face, larynx, tongue, difficulty breathing, dizziness. If these symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek medical attention.

When using the ointment, temporary side symptoms may occur:

local irritation;
signs of peeling;
the appearance of redness on the surface of the skin.

Precautionary measures

When using Erythromycin ointment, important precautions must be taken into account:

If you have previously had allergic reactions to antibiotics or are taking medications, you must inform your doctor about this;
When applying, it is not recommended to rub the ointment into the skin, otherwise adverse reactions may occur;
The ointment must be applied carefully, it is important that it does not get into the eyes, nose, or mouth;
You should not use the drug for longer than the prescribed course.

It is imperative to follow the above precautions, this will help prevent various health problems. It is advisable to first consult with a doctor, who will prescribe the optimal course of use and tell you about detailed instructions for using this drug. If you apply the ointment correctly, then all unpleasant skin lesions will disappear within a week.

How to use Erythromycin correctly?

Before starting a course of treatment, you need to be prepared for the fact that the therapy should continue until the acne completely disappears .

This process can take quite a long period of time.

In order for the drug to have the expected effect , you need to know how to use the ointment.

Before starting treatment, conduct a test to determine the sensitivity of your skin to this medicine. This procedure will help avoid unwanted allergic reactions. To do this, apply a small amount of the product to the elbow bend. After half an hour, check the treated skin. If no negative manifestations are observed, the drug can be used to treat acne.
Before applying the ointment to the skin, you need to clean and dry .
The ointment should be applied in a thin layer to the affected area 2 to 3 times throughout the day.
How long treatment will last depends on the advanced stage of the disease. Recovery may occur in a week and a half , or maybe in several months.

To prevent addiction to the drug, you need to stop using the drug after 3 - 4 weeks, and after a while resume. That is why erythromycin ointment is used with other drugs.