Topical metronidazole in the treatment of perioral dermatitis.

Author(s): Veien NK, Munkvad JM, Nielsen AO, Niordson AM, Stahl D, Thormann J

Affiliation(s): Dermatology Clinic, Aalborg, Denmark.

Publication date & source: 1991-02, J Am Acad Dermatol., 24(2 Pt 1):258-60.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial

The twice-daily topical application of 1% metroindazole cream was compared with 250 mg oral tetracycline, taken twice daily, in the treatment of perioral dermatitis in a prospective, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, multicenter trial. One hundred eight patients were treated for 8 weeks. At the end of this time the median number of papules in the metronidazole-treated group was reduced to 8% of the initial number, and the median number in the group treated with tetracycline was reduced to 0% of the initial number. Although both treatments were effective, oral tetracycline was significantly more effective than topical metronidazole.