Tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride is the active ingredient in some brands of over-the-counter eye drops and nasal drops and sprays. While tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride is not typically considered a treatment for pimples, some people use it as a home remedy. There's some logic behind this practice, but effectiveness is unsubstantiated.
Function
Tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it shrinks blood vessels. This makes it useful as a topical treatment for relieving nasal congestion and eye redness, itching and minor irritation. As a nasal congestion therapy, some products with tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride may also contain zinc sulfate, which has an astringent effect -- it constricts body tissue. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned against using nasal products that contain zinc because of anecdotal reports that they cause loss of smell.
Potential Products
The ability of tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride to shrink blood vessels accounts for the theory it can help relieve the redness of pimples. Although the substance is mainly a home remedy as of 2011, several patents have been granted for inventions of products containing tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride to treat acne. These proposed products generally also contain a standard topical medicine for acne treatment, such as benzoyl peroxide. Some also contain zinc sulfate.
Usage
If you'd like to try using tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride on your pimples, you shouldn't experience side effects unless you're allergic to any ingredients in the product. Don't apply it to a large area, however, because if your skin absorbs enough tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride into your bloodstream, you could experience side effects such as a headache, tremors or lightheadedness. Instead, soak a cotton swab with the product and apply it to a small number of pimples. To avoid contamination, don't dip the swab into the bottle and don't touch the tip of the dropper or spray dispenser to any surface.
Considerations
While using eye drops or nasal spray on pimples may seem like a cheap and easy way to solve the problem, you're probably better off using a more proven remedy. A wide variety of products are available containing benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid or salicylic acid, or a blend of these ingredients. Prescription remedies also are available if you're experiencing more than just a few pimples. These therapies include topical retinoids and topical antibiotics.
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