Metronidazole treats acne. Can metronidazole treat acne?

We all know that metronidazole is an important drug for fighting anaerobic bacteria. It is mainly used to treat hemorrhoids and other types of diseases. So can metronidazole treat acne?

Can metronidazole remove blackheads?

After the wet compress, blackheads and whiteheads can be easily removed. Isn't this too effective? Well, it is effective, but unfortunately it is not the credit of metronidazole.

Essentially, blackheads and whiteheads are oil that accumulates in the hair follicles and is not discharged to the surface of the skin. If the surface of the oil particle is covered with a layer of keratin, it is a whitehead; if it is not covered with keratin and directly contacts the air, 80% of the oil will be oxidized into black and become a blackhead. The newly secreted sebum is liquid at room temperature, and the sebum that cannot be discharged will often increase its melting point due to oxidation, that is, it will solidify into hard particles embedded in the pores and can be felt by hand. They are not infected by Propionibacterium acnes (one of the causes of acne), so they will not turn red.

Can metronidazole remove blackheads?

After the wet compress, blackheads and whiteheads can be easily removed. Isn't this too effective? Well, it is effective, but unfortunately it is not the credit of metronidazole.

Essentially, blackheads and whiteheads are oil that accumulates in the hair follicles and is not discharged to the surface of the skin. If the surface of the oil particle is covered with a layer of keratin, it is a whitehead; if it is not covered with keratin and directly contacts the air, 80% of the oil will be oxidized into black and become a blackhead. The newly secreted sebum is liquid at room temperature, and the sebum that cannot be discharged will often increase its melting point due to oxidation, that is, it will solidify into hard particles embedded in the pores and can be felt by hand. They are not infected by Propionibacterium acnes (one of the causes of acne), so they will not turn red.

Depending on the severity of the disease, acne can be divided into several different stages. The papules, pustules and even nodules formed by infection are usually called "acne"

Metronidazole is an antibiotic that targets anaerobic microorganisms (for example, it is used to treat intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis, vaginal trichomoniasis, balanitis, skin leishmaniasis, and guinea worm infection, etc.), and is not effective against blackheads or whiteheads that are not related to infection. In other words, the effect of "all the blackheads and whiteheads on the nose and chin can be removed by scraping with fingernails" in the rumor on Weibo is only related to wet compresses and bathing, and has nothing to do with metronidazole.

Regardless of the purpose, wet compress is not recommended. Excessive water retention for a long time will damage the stratum corneum, reduce the skin barrier function, and cause more skin problems.

Does Metronidazole cure acne?

Acne is actually a type of acne. Depending on the severity of the disease, acne can be divided into several different stages. Blackheads and whiteheads are called "acne", and papules, pustules and even nodules caused by bacterial infection are usually called "acne".

The three main factors that cause acne are: excessive sebum secretion, adhesion of keratin in the funnel of hair follicles, and proliferation of acne bacteria. The overly thick stratum corneum covers the opening of the hair follicles, preventing the smooth discharge of sebum, which becomes a nutrient for acne bacteria. Acne bacteria decompose sebum into free fatty acids, which stimulate the hair follicles and cause inflammation. Controlling any one or more of these three factors can improve the acne situation.