Modern medicine offers many remedies to combat cosmetic skin defects such as pimples and blackheads. They all differ from each other in composition, effect and cost. On pharmacy shelves you can find the drug Metrogyl gel for acne. Many people view it with distrust due to its low cost.
There is an opinion: the cheaper the product, the less effect it has. This idea is not always confirmed in practice. Metrogyl shows good results in the treatment of various skin problems. Kataliya.ru will talk about this product in today’s article, its pros and cons, and analogues.
Indications for use
The drug is prescribed to eliminate the following types of problems:
- Demodectic mange;
- Seborrheic dermatitis;
- Acne rash;
- Rosacea;
- Comedones, including subcutaneous acne;
- Black dots;
- Trophic ulcers;
- Infectious inflammations with purulent formation.
Very often the drug is prescribed for teenagers who have problem skin with inflammatory formations that appear as a result of the development of hormonal levels.
Used during pregnancy without causing side effects.
Compound
The active ingredient is metronidazole. Each gram of gel contains exactly 10 mg of the substance. In its pure form, it is a white powder that is poorly soluble in water and alcohol, and has lipophilic properties. Thanks to this, you can easily use it to make ointments and creams.
Metronidazole for external use is available in the form of ointments and gels, and is packaged in tubes containing 30 g of ointment. One tube of ointment is sold in a cardboard package.
The mechanism of action of Metrogyl gel on problem skin
The drug contains the active ingredient metronidazole, which has the ability to penetrate deeply into the layers of the epidermis and produce an antibacterial effect.
When the sebaceous glands are disrupted, excessive sebum secretion occurs, which clogs the pores and promotes the development of microbes.
Metrogyl components destroy bacteria and prevent their further spread. As a result, the inflammatory formation dries out and the contents of the pore come out.
Regular use of the pores accelerates the process of restoration of damaged cells and narrows the pores. Additional components of the drug effectively relieve inflammatory processes and normalize sebum secretion.
The drug acts only in the layers of the skin, so it can be used over a long course without causing harm to the body.
How it works
Metrogyl is a synthetic drug from the imidazoles group. Has antimicrobial and antiprotozoal effects.
The product is effective against anaerobes (bacteroides, fusobacteria, mobiluncus, peptococci, peptostreptococci, clostridia, eubacteria, bacterioides fragilis, prevotella), as well as protozoa.
The principle of action of Metrogyl is based on the reduction of the 5-nitro group of the active substance by intracellular transport proteins of the listed pathogens.
The reduced 5-nitro group of the active substance interacts with the genetic material of pathogenic microorganisms, which ultimately leads to the death of the pathogen.
This broad-spectrum product has a pronounced anti-acne effect. The mechanisms of action are not known for certain, but they are not associated with the effect on the acne mite, which is found in the secretions of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles and is involved in the pathogenesis of acne.
It is also noted that the active substance has antioxidant activity. It has been proven that metronidazole reduces the production of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, and active oxygen by neutrophils.
These compounds are potentially oxidants that can provoke cell damage in the inflammatory focus, and Metrogyl minimizes oxidative stress.
It is characteristic that for telangiectasias the drug does not have a significant effect.
Pharmacokinetics of the drug
The product is practically not absorbed when used topically. A very small amount of the drug is found in the blood serum after external use.
The absorbed active substance passes through the blood-brain barrier and the placenta. When applying 1 g of gel, the highest concentration in serum is 65 ng/ml. This amount of the drug is equivalent to 7.5 mg of the active substance.
Although the substance interacts slightly when used externally, caution must be exercised when using warfarin, as well as other indirect anticoagulants (prothrombin time may increase).
The antimicrobial effect of the active substance is enhanced by sulfonamides.
Instructions for using the gel in the treatment of acne
It is recommended to apply the drug twice a day to problem areas of the skin. Before applying the gel, it is necessary to clean the skin surface by washing with any antibacterial agent.
In cases of a small number of inflammatory formations, the gel must be used, applied pointwise to each pimple separately. If there are a large number of inflammatory formations, the drug is applied to the entire surface in a thin layer.
The product can be used after shaving and under makeup.
If there are a large number of purulent formations, the substance is applied in a thick layer and fixed with a plaster or bandage.
How to enhance the effect of treating acne with Metrogyl gel?
The course of using the drug is at least one month; many people are looking for ways to speed up the healing process without harm to the body.
The following methods will help speed up the elimination of inflammatory formations on the skin:
- Avoid unhealthy foods such as sweets and those containing a lot of spices;
- Use additional vitamin A - helps speed up the skin restoration process, taken once a day before meals;
- Products containing azelaic acid are recommended to be used once a day to further tighten and cleanse pores. Such drugs include Skinoren, Azogel;
- Before using Metrogyl gel , it is recommended to cleanse the skin using special antibacterial washes;
- Salicylic ointment - applied directly to pimples, helping to speed up the process of relieving inflammation and has a drying effect.
However, it should be noted that such methods of accelerated recovery must first be discussed with the attending physician; you should not engage in treatment on your own.
Additional recommendations
To effectively eliminate acne, you must follow the following recommendations:
- Before starting treatment, it is necessary to undergo appropriate diagnostics, since the appearance of acne can very often be the first symptoms of various types of diseases;
- It is unacceptable to squeeze purulent pimples;
- Use tar soap for washing to reduce the level of skin greasiness;
- After the first results of reducing inflammatory formations appear, you should not stop treatment; this is necessary to prevent re-infection;
- If a repeated course of treatment is necessary, it is necessary to take a break of at least three months.
After applying the gel, you should not expose it to direct sunlight for some time; the product must be completely absorbed into the skin for complete penetration into the epidermal cells and effectiveness.
Use during pregnancy
The use of drugs that contain the substance metronidazole is prohibited during the first trimester, since during this period the formation of embryonic tissue occurs, and any exposure to antibacterial drugs can be harmful and cause side effects.
For the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, the use of the drug is permissible, however, it is necessary to use the minimum available dosage and constantly be under the supervision of a doctor.
Metrogyl Denta for acne
If you have Metrogyl Denta in the house, then there is no need to run to the pharmacy for regular Metrogyl. Denta can completely cope with acne. For those who do not know what kind of gel this is, it is worth explaining that it belongs to the category of dental gel and is used to treat the oral cavity. But, as practice shows, Denta is also effective in the fight against acne.
Gel Metrogyl Denta
Metrogyl Denta for acne is similarly applied only locally. Apply a thin layer of gel to acne with clean hands or a cotton swab. The skin must be cleansed first. The product has a menthol scent and a refreshing effect, which makes its use pleasant. The course of treatment can last up to 3 months. During this period, it is not recommended to drink alcoholic beverages.
Contraindications
Like any medicine, Metrogyl gel for external use has the following contraindications for use:
- If you have kidney and liver diseases;
- Leukopenia;
- First trimester of pregnancy;
- Children under 12 years of age;
- Individual intolerance to the constituent components of the drug;
- Chronic alcoholism;
- Ulcerative lesions of the skin;
- Breastfeeding period.
The drug for treating acne is well absorbed by the body, however, interactions with other medications may cause side effects, so you should consult a specialist before use.
Side effects
Metrogyl rarely causes side effects, however, in individual cases the following symptoms may be observed:
- Redness of the skin at the application sites;
- Swelling;
- Itching;
- Peeling;
- The occurrence of urticaria;
- Headache.
If it gets into the eyes, severe burning symptoms and increased tearing may appear; to eliminate the discomfort, rinse the eyes with plenty of running water.
Storage conditions and periods
Metrogyl gel for the treatment of problem skin can be purchased at almost any pharmacy without the need to provide a prescription.
The medicine must be stored at a temperature of 30 degrees, the shelf life is three years.
After the expiration date, the use of the drug is strictly prohibited.
The drug should not be frozen, since after exposure to low temperatures a decrease in the effectiveness of the effect is observed.
Analogs
If necessary, you can use other medications with similar effects on the skin:
- Gel Rozamet - has an antibacterial effect on the skin and effectively fights against inflammatory formations on the skin. Average cost 150 rubles;
- Chatterbox with metronidazole is prepared according to a prescription prescribed by a doctor. It has the ability to tighten pores and destroy bacteria that form in pores and cause an inflammatory effect. The cost of the mash is around 100 rubles, depending on the cost of the components;
- Metroseptol is a gel for combating acne and comedones, has the ability to cleanse and tighten pores. Average cost 160 rubles;
- Metronidazole - cream has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects on the skin. Compliance with the correct use of the cream allows you to quickly eliminate bacteria that cause acne formation and reduce the spread of formations on healthy areas of the skin. The average cost of the cream is 100 rubles;
- Acnestop - baked in the form of a cream for precise use in places of formation of the inflammatory process; before use, it requires a doctor’s prescription and an individual course of treatment. The average cost of a drug is 170 rubles.
Rosamet Metroseptol
Metronidazole AcneStop
When choosing analogues of the drug Metrogyl gel, you must carefully read the instructions and consult a dermatologist. Since each type of drug has its own characteristics of use and various contraindications and side effects.
Description of the drug
Metrogyl is a bactericidal drug intended for the treatment of inflammatory processes on the skin . Gel characteristics:
- without smell;
- has a transparent color;
- spreads easily on the skin;
- packed in a plastic container;
- volume of one package - 30 g.
Metrogyl gel is available without a prescription, but you should not use it without a doctor’s prescription, as uncontrolled use can lead to an imbalance in water and fat balance.
The active component in the gel for external use is metronidazole, an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory substance that has a detrimental effect on single-celled anaerobic bacteria. The product also includes:
- disodium salt;
- propylene glycol;
- carbomer;
- propyl ether;
- paraben.
The drug effectively eliminates skin rashes caused by the activity of pathogenic bacteria. The drug contains no antibiotics or hormonal components.
Metrogyl has a complex effect on problem areas: relieves inflammation, normalizes the functioning of the sebaceous glands, blocks the proliferation of bacteria, and disinfects the skin. The cost of one package of cream is in the range of 100-150 rubles.
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