Topical metronidazole in the treatment of perioral dermatitis.

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.