Why do doctors not want you to use Neosporin?

Neomycin frequently causes allergic reactions of the skin called contact dermatitis. It can cause the skin to become red, scaly, and itchy. The more Neosporin you use, the worse the skin reaction gets. Neomycin is such a common allergen that it was named Allergen of the Year in 2010.

When should you not use Neosporin?

Do not apply the ointment over large skin areas. Do not use on a deep cut, an animal bite, or a serious burn. Contact your doctor for instructions on how to treat these more severe skin injuries. This medication can be applied up to 3 times each day, or as directed on the medicine label.

Do dermatologists recommend Neosporin?

Neosporin is the one that most people have heard of, it has great brand-name recognition. However, most dermatologists do not recommend using Neosporin. Neosporin contains a mixture of 3 topical antibacterial medications: Neomycin, polymixin, and bacitracin.

What do doctors use instead of Neosporin?

Bacitracin, Polysporin, or Vaseline (petroleum) can usually be used as alternatives to Neosporin.

Why you shouldn't use antibiotic ointment?

While it might seem sensible to use antibiotic topicals to combat germs and prevent infection with cuts, they can irritate your skin even more and cause a painful and/or itchy rash called contact dermatitis, dermatologist Dr. Marcelyn Coley warned.

What should you not use Neosporin for

Is Vaseline better than antibiotic ointment?

Studies show that petroleum jelly is just as effective as an antibiotic ointment for non-infected wounds. Don't douse a minor wound with antiseptics like iodine or hydrogen peroxide. They're actually harmful to the skin and can delay healing.

Is Vaseline or Neosporin better for cuts?

They gave small skin wounds to human participants and applied Vaseline or Neosporin. The people who applied Vaseline healed faster than those who applied Neosporin to their wounds. This suggests that Neosporin kills the bacteria and makes the wounds heal slower, Garza said.

Does Neosporin help wounds heal faster?

Antibiotic ointments (such as Neosporin) help wounds heal by keeping out infection and by keeping the wound clean and moist.

What are the side effects of Neosporin?

Burning, redness, or irritation of the skin may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. If your doctor has prescribed this medication, remember that your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.

Can you put Neosporin on open wound?

Once your cut or wound has been cleaned, the next step is to apply antibiotic ointment, such as NEOSPORIN^® First Aid Antibiotic Ointment. Apply a thin layer to your wound to kill bacteria and stop infection before it starts.

What is the best ointment for wounds?

A first aid antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin, Neosporin, Polysporin) can be applied to help prevent infection and keep the wound moist. Continue to care for the wound. Continued care of the wound is also important.

What is the best antiseptic for open wounds?

For more than a century, iodine has been regarded as one of the most efficacious antiseptic to reduce infectious complications and topical iodine forms have been used for wound treatment.

Is Neosporin a strong antibiotic?

Neosporin, sometimes known as "triple antibiotic," is a combination antibiotic ointment used to help prevent skin infections in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. It's not meant to treat animal bites, serious burns, or deep puncture wounds - those might require medical attention.

Does Neosporin get absorbed into the skin?

Even though the medication is absorbed, especially through broken or burned skin, these products aren't useful for treating infections that go deeper than the skin. The OTC antibiotic ointments Polysporin, Neosporin, and bacitracin are useful for minor skin injuries.

Can bacteria grow in Neosporin?

A 2011 study found a link between using Neosporin and other over-the-counter antibiotic ointments and the spread of a resistant MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) strain of bacteria called USA300, which is now being found more commonly.

Can a wound heal without antibiotics?

Normally, no antibiotic is necessary to heal a wound, even when the wound culture reveals scary kinds of germs. But when germs penetrate and spread into the tissue, antibiotics either oral or IV will be necessary.

Can your body fight a wound infection without antibiotics?

Unless the infection is very minor, antibiotics are usually needed to treat the infection and stop it spreading. If the wound and/or area of infection are small then an antibiotic cream such as fusidic acid may be prescribed.

Can a wound infection heal on its own?

Will an Infected Cut Heal on Its Own? While some minor wound infections can heal on their own, untreated infected wounds can leave a scar, at best, or lead to more serious complications — including death — at worst.

How many days should I use Neosporin on a wound?

Do not use this product for longer than 1 week unless directed by your doctor. Do not use this medication on irritated skin in a child's diaper area unless directed by the doctor.

Do wounds heal faster covered or uncovered?

A handful of studies have found that when wounds are kept moist and covered, blood vessels regenerate faster and the number of cells that cause inflammation drop more rapidly than they do in wounds allowed to air out. It is best to keep a wound moist and covered for at least five days.

Does Neosporin heal scars?

Application of a triple antibiotic ointment (such as over-the-counter Bacitracin, Neosporin or Polysporin) three times a day to the wound for a full three weeks helps prevent infection and creates a better foundation for improved long-term scar appearance.

Why do dermatologists recommend Vaseline over Neosporin?

Again, studies have shown that gentle daily soap/water cleansing + Vaseline is MORE effective against wound infections compared to a topical antibiotic such as Neosporin or bacitracin. Patients treated with Neosporin and bacitracin actually had a higher rate of allergic contact dermatitis that inhibited wound healing.

Can I use Vaseline instead of Neosporin?

Petroleum jelly products, such as Vaseline, can be good alternatives to bacitracin or Neosporin. The jelly keeps wounds from drying out, which can prevent or ease itching and other unpleasant symptoms.

Why do dermatologists use Vaseline?

To save on skin care, dermatologists recommend using petroleum jelly to: Relieve dry skin, including your lips and eyelids. Dry skin can flake, itch, crack and even bleed. Since ointments are more effective and less irritating than lotions, consider applying petroleum jelly to dry skin, including your lips and eyelids.