Doctors urgently remind: Erythromycin ointment must not be used for a long time! Tell your family members immediately

Experts in this article:

Wang Wei, Deputy Director of the Pharmacy Department, Ulanhot People's Hospital, Inner Mongolia

Liu Zhijun, Chief Pharmacist, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Member of the Anti-Infective Pharmacology Committee of the Beijing Pharmacological Society

The weather is getting hotter

What's the most annoying thing about this season?

Mosquitoes

Get bitten by it

It's really itchy.

Whenever this time

People often say

Just apply some erythromycin ointment

besides

Whether it is skin allergies or acne

Many people will recommend it

It seems like this is a

“Panacea”

Erythromycin ointment

Became a hot search

Attracting a lot of attention

Doctor's reminder

Erythromycin ointment should never be used for a long time

Once abused

Wait until you really need it

The body may become unable to take any medicine.

So

What kind of medicine is erythromycin ointment?

How should it be used scientifically?

Then look down

What kind of medicine is erythromycin ointment?

Erythromycin ointment, as the name suggests, has erythromycin as its main ingredient, which is a relatively common antibacterial drug with good antibacterial activity against most Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus.

A small amount of erythromycin is mixed with yellow vaseline and paraffin to make a 1% ointment, which is the common erythromycin ointment we have.

What diseases is it mainly used to treat?

The indications for erythromycin ointment mentioned in the instructions include:

1. Purulent skin diseases such as impetigo.

2. Infection of small-area burns and ulcers. It should be emphasized here that burns and ulcers are small-area and of relatively mild severity. In severe cases, you must seek medical attention in time to avoid delaying treatment.

3. Acne vulgaris.

Acne, also known as pimples, is a relatively common skin disease. The occurrence of acne is closely related to factors such as excessive sebum secretion, clogged hair follicles, bacterial infection and inflammatory response.

Here we need to remind everyone that not all acne requires the use of erythromycin ointment. When the symptoms are mild and there is no infection, there is no need to use antibiotics. However, when folliculitis is caused by clogged hair follicles, the use of erythromycin ointment is the right treatment.

In addition to erythromycin ointment, there is also erythromycin eye ointment. What is the difference between them? Can they be used together? Let's take a look...

What is the difference between erythromycin ointment and erythromycin eye ointment?

1. Erythromycin eye ointment is used for trachoma, conjunctivitis, or external eye infection, and is applied to the eyelids. Erythromycin ointment is applied to the skin surface.

2. Because it is applied to the eyelid, erythromycin eye ointment is required to be nearly sterile, and the production process must strictly control sterility. Erythromycin ointment is mainly applied topically on the skin surface and is not a sterile preparation. The two must not be mixed.

3. Generally speaking, the concentration of erythromycin eye ointment is 0.5%, and the concentration of erythromycin ointment is even higher, which is 1%. Therefore, if erythromycin eye ointment is used as ointment, it may affect the local antibacterial and anti-infection effect of the skin due to insufficient concentration.

How should erythromycin ointment be used scientifically?

1. It is recommended to use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist

Erythromycin is an antibiotic drug. Improper use or abuse can lead to drug resistance in pathogens. Before using erythromycin ointment, please consult a doctor or pharmacist first, and use it after the doctor or pharmacist confirms and gives the corresponding medication instructions.

2. Be alert to adverse reactions such as drug allergies

Although there are fewer reports of erythromycin-related allergic reactions than other antibacterial drugs, you must carefully inform your doctor or pharmacist of your own condition (such as allergy history, etc.) before taking the medicine. If you experience any discomfort after taking the medicine, such as burning, itching, redness and swelling at the medication site or other discomfort, you should stop taking the medicine, wash off the local medicine, and go to the hospital for treatment if necessary.

3. Do not abuse for a long time

Using erythromycin ointment for too long may lead to the emergence of bacterial resistance, that is, the bacteria become "invulnerable" to antibiotics. The more resistant bacteria there are, the more difficult it is to treat the infection.

In summary

Erythromycin ointment

Not a panacea!

Not a panacea!

Not a panacea!

Erythromycin ointment

Mainly contains the antibacterial drug erythromycin

Anti-infective drugs

therefore

Not suitable for mosquito bites, allergies, etc.

Non-infectious conditions

Consult before use

Professional doctor or pharmacist

If you experience any discomfort

Stop medication promptly

Rinse the skin

Seek medical treatment if necessary

The pictures in this article with the "Science Popularization China" watermark are all from the copyright gallery. The pictures are not authorized for reprinting.