What do you reach for to treat an open cut or a wound? Thanks to Johnson & Johnson\u2019s successful marketing, many people say Neosporin. While I do want you to use a product to keep the wound moist, you need to know why it shouldn\u2019t be Neosporin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Neosporin was created in the 1950s. However, it was not approved\nfor use by the FDA until 1971. It is an over-the-counter topical antibiotic containing\nneomycin sulfate, polymyxin B, and\nbacitracin. So why do we dermatologists\nin Naples, FL<\/a>\u2014and around the country\u2014despise this product? It\u2019s the neomycin!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Neomycin frequently causes allergic\nreactions of the skin called contact dermatitis. It can cause the skin to\nbecome red, scaly, and itchy. The more Neosporin you use, the worse the skin\nreaction<\/a> gets. Neomycin is such a common allergen that it was\nnamed Allergen of the Year in 2010. The goal of this award is to bring\nawareness to commonly used products that are under-recognized as common allergens.\nPolymyxin B and bacitracin can cause contact dermatitis as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also important to understand\nthat Neosporin does not speed up wound healing compared to petrolatum. In 1996,\nthe Journal of the American Medical\nAssociation<\/em> published a study comparing antibiotic ointment with plain\npetrolatum jelly. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate\nof infection between the groups. The only differences seen between the two\ngroups was that a small number of patients in the antibiotic group developed\nallergic reactions. Meanwhile, no allergic reactions were reported in the petrolatum\ngroup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In reality, the most important\ncomponent of antibiotic ointments is the petrolatum. Therefore, please skip the\nover-the-counter antibiotics. Instead, just use the petrolatum ointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To find out more, contact Skin Wellness Physicians by calling (239) 732-0044 or send a message online<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dermatologist Dr. Anne Marie Tremaine Explains Why You Should Choose Something Else What do you reach for to treat an open cut or a wound? Thanks to Johnson & Johnson\u2019s successful marketing, many people say Neosporin. While I do want you to use a product to keep the wound moist, you need to know why … <\/p>\n