Can You Put Neosporin on an Open Wound? - Verywell Health
Neosporin is an antibacterial ointment that can help keep a cut from getting infected, but it should not be used on every type of open wound. Some wounds don't need an antibiotic and treating them with one can add to the risk of allergic reaction and antibiotic resistance. Other, deeper wounds may need care that antibiotic ointment doesn't provide.
This article explains what Neosporin is, the types of wounds you can treat with it, and the side effects of Neosporin. It also discusses when to see a healthcare provider instead of treating a cut at home.
When to Use Neosporin
Neosporin is an over-the-counter (OTC) triple-antibiotic ointment. It contains three antibacterial agents: neomycin, bacitracin, and polymyxin.
Triple-antibiotic ointments are commonly used to prevent infection and encourage healing. A triple-antibiotic ointment may help minor cuts and scrapes heal quickly and with less pain. However, the ointments are not necessary for every kind of wound.
You can often get the same results by bandaging the cut, keeping it moist, and changing the dressing often.
What Dermatologists Recommend for Wound Care
A 2021 study found that 43% of the time, dermatologists recommended topical antibiotics like Neosporin to people who had outpatients surgeries or skin wounds. And when 962 people were asked at an outpatient surgery center, 75% of them preferred these ointments for small burns or cuts. But there's some evidence that the antibiotics don't help that much in preventing infection.
Neosporin vs. Petroleum Jelly
An antibiotic ointment like Neosporin is petroleum jelly (petrolatum) with antibiotics added to it. A 2021 study compared the use of Vaseline, a petroleum jelly, with Neosporin in a small group of adults.
The researchers found that the people who used Neosporin had slower wound healing times. They also found higher levels of healing-related genetic activity in the wounds treated with Vaseline (though some types of gene expression were higher in the Neosporin group).
The researchers said their work supports the importance of limiting antibiotic use when it's not necessary, in order to avoid antibiotic resistance. They note that more study is needed.
Petroleum Jelly for Minor Cuts
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, petroleum jelly is usually the best ointment for minor cuts. Apply it continuously to keep the wound moist until it heals. It helps to use it from a tube instead of a jar to limit the spread of germs.
Neosporin vs. Bacitracin
Bacitracin ointment contains only bacitracin as its active ingredient. It is not a triple-antibiotic product like Neosporin. It may be a better option for people who are allergic to the neomycin component of Neosporin.
Use Neosporin in situations when healing may prove slow due to underlying health problems or the injury itself, and when you are more concerned about infection, since Neosporin has more antimicrobial properties than Bacitracin does.
A 2018 study found that antibiotic ointments offered some minimal benefits in preventing infection. But most people with healthy immune systems can heal from a minor cut, burn, or scrape without using an ointment like Neosporin. If you have a medical condition that increases your risk for infections or affects your body's ability to heal (such as diabetes), ask your healthcare provider.
Neosporin Side Effects and Considerations
Neosporin can have side effects, and you should know some important things before you use it.
Some people develop an allergic reaction to Neosporin that causes redness, itching, and burning of their skin (contact dermatitis). A 2021 study of 231 people compared Neosporin and an antibiotic-free gel called Stratamed used after dermatology procedures and found fewer cases of contact dermatitis when Stratamed was used instead.
If a person has an allergic reaction to Neosporin, a double-antibiotic ointment like Polymyxin (which only has bacitracin and polymyxin in it) can be used instead. Another primary concern about Neosporin is that using the product too much or too long may lead to the antibiotics not working as well or not working at all (antibiotic resistance).
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria are no longer effectively "wiped out" by the antibiotics used to treat them. This can happen after they have been exposed to the antibiotic many times.
For example, newer recommendations to limit or avoid Neosporin and other topical antibiotic use focus on preventing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) when treating skin conditions like impetigo that can be MRSA-related.
Can Neosporin Be Used on Large or Deep Wounds?
You should never use Neosporin on large areas of skin. If you get a large or deep cut or burn, it needs to be treated by a healthcare provider or at an urgent care facility.
How to Dress a Wound
Treating a minor cut or scratch is mostly about keeping it clean—but the only thing you really need for this is water.
Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin for Verywell Health
Here are step-by-step instructions for caring for a wound at home:
- First, rinse the wound with water to remove all dirt and particles. These substances can be sources of germs that lead to infection.
- Soap can help if the wound is grimy. Make sure that any grit or dirt is thoroughly rinsed away. Do not use alcohol, iodine, peroxide, or anything harsh. These products can damage the tissues and delay healing.
- After cleansing, decide whether to apply a thin layer of Neosporin or just a little petroleum jelly to keep the skin moist.
- Next, dress the wound with an adhesive bandage or a sterile dressing.
- Change the dressing every day. You must change it more often if the bandage gets dirty or wet.
- Once the wound has healed and there is no more exposed tissue, remove the bandage.
- Do not pick the scab; just let it fall off on its own.
Summary
Neosporin is a triple antibiotic ointment available at most pharmacies and grocery stores without a prescription. Neosporin ointment can help treat minor cuts, abrasions, and burns and may help to speed up healing and ease the pain.
However, proper wound care can do the same without needing a topical antibiotic, which has side effects and risks.
Neosporin is generally safe but is not always necessary. It's also not appropriate to use on large areas of injury or deep cuts or burns. These wounds need to be treated by a healthcare provider.
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