How long neosporin

Both bacitracin and neomycin carry a small risk of skin irritation and allergic reactions, such as contact dermatitis. The risk is slightly less for bacitracin.

Good to know for all your medication: Cases where you should stick closely to the expiration date include certain liquid medications such as nitroglycerin, insulin, and epinephrine, and especially the antibiotic tetracycline—which, past it expiration date can become toxic and cause kidney problems—should not be used past the expiration date.

When in doubt, ask your pharmacist about proper disposal. These materials were made possible by a grant from the state Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program, which is funded by a multistate settlement of consumer fraud claims regarding the marketing of the prescription drug Neurontin gabapentin.

I've spent nearly a decade reading, " squinching " at, and interpreting health research, and another couple of years looking at why medications cost so much. In my spare time, you'll find me giving unsolicited health advice to friends and family, practicing my asanas, biking, and juggling. Yes, juggling! Sign In. Most cuts and scrapes heal without antibiotic ointment. But it can make healing go faster and help reduce scarring.

Scabs are like bandages made by the body. They protect wounds from dirt. It is best to leave them alone and not pick at them. They will fall off when the time is right. Call your child's doctor if the wound is deep, if you can't get the edges to stay together with a bandage, or if the edges are ragged. Your child's doctor may want to close the wound with stitches or skin adhesive. These things can help reduce scarring. The cut bleeds in spurts, blood soaks through the bandage, or the bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes of firm, direct pressure.

You usually can wash an area that has been stitched after one to three days. Washing off dirt and the crust that forms around the stitches helps reduce scarring. If the wound leaks clear yellow fluid, you may need to cover it with a bandage. Your child's doctor may want you to rinse the wound with water and put on a clean bandage 24 hours after getting stitches.

Be sure to dry the area with soft pats of a clean towel after washing. You may want to hold the wound above your child's heart for the first day or two to help keep the swelling down, reduce pain, and speed healing.

Your child's doctor also may suggest using a small amount of antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. The ointment keeps a heavy scab from forming and may reduce the size of a scar. Stitches usually are taken out in three to 14 days, depending on where the cut is located. Areas that move, such as over or around a joint, need more time to heal. Skin adhesive such as Dermabond is a way to close small wounds without stitches. Your child's doctor will put a liquid film on the wound and let it dry.

The film holds the edges of the wound together. You just leave the film on your child's skin until it falls off usually in five to 10 days. It is important not to scratch or pick at the adhesive film on the wound. If the doctor puts a bandage over the adhesive, be careful to keep the bandage dry.

Your doctor will probably want you to put on a clean bandage every day. Doctors have used bacitracin and ointments containing it since the s , when researchers discovered this antibiotic.

Both ointments are for mild and uncomplicated injuries, such as minor burns, scrapes, and cuts. Neither preparation is strong enough to treat a serious skin infection or any systemic infection. Deep wounds may require additional treatment, including stitches, oral antibiotics, or vaccinations against diseases such as tetanus. No large studies have assessed whether bacitracin ointment or Neosporin is safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

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. Petroleum jelly also carries a lower risk of allergic reactions and may help keep wounds clean and reduce the risk of scarring. Lanolin-based lotions or those containing vitamin E may also help. However, some people are allergic to lanolin.

It is crucial to check ingredients lists and do a patch skin test before widely using any cream or lotion. Beyond creams and ointments, it is important to keep wounds clean. If a person is not interested in using a cream, they should rinse the wound several times a day with mild soap and warm water. Avoid picking at a wound. Keep it covered if it is frequently exposed to allergens or dirt, particularly if the wound is on a hand or the face.

Moreover, you should never use Neosporin on large areas of skin. If you get a large cut or burn, it is better to have it treated by a healthcare provider or an urgent care facility. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association compared antibiotic ointment with plain white petroleum jelly the medium in which the antibiotics are contained. There was no statistical difference between using petroleum jelly with antibiotic and without.

You may decide to trust your body to heal the way it's supposed to without using the ointment. However, if you have a medical condition such as diabetes that keeps your body from healing correctly, then talk to your healthcare provider about the best way for you to handle minor cuts and scratches. Treating a minor cut or scratch is mostly about keeping it clean, but the only thing you really need to clean it with is water.

You need to make sure all dirt and particles are removed from the wound, as those can be the sources of germs that lead to infection. Soap can help if the wound is really grimy, but you have to make sure that any grit or dirt is completely rinsed away.

You won't want to use alcohol, iodine, peroxide, or anything harsh that can damage the tissues, delaying healing. After cleansing, you can decide whether to apply a thin layer of Neosporin or simply a little petroleum jelly to keep the skin moist. You can then dress the wound either with an adhesive bandage or a sterile dressing. Change the dressing every day, more often if the bandage gets dirty.

If the cut gets dirty or excessively wet, you should change it. Once the wound has healed enough that there is no more exposed tissue, you can remove the bandage. Do not pick the scab, but rather let it fall off. Neosporin may help treat a minor burn, but it should never be used on a large area of skin, especially if you have a preexisting skin condition. For serious burns to recover properly, they should be treated by a medical professional.

Petroleum jelly is usually the best ointment for minor cuts, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. Be sure to apply it continuously to keep the wound moist until it heals. Also, try using petroleum jelly from a tube rather than a jar to limit the spread of germs. Polysporin is an antibiotic ointment that helps treat bacterial infections in the eye.

Some people have an allergic reaction to Polysporin, so it may be a good idea to speak to your healthcare provider first. Bacitracin is one of three antibacterial agents contained in Neosporin. The other two are neomycin and polymyxin.

Alternative remedies to treat cuts involve the use of honey, as well as curcumin. Evidence points to honey containing antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties for treating some minor wounds.

Curcumin has also been found to have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in helping to heal wounds. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.