Neosporin Antibiotic Ointment
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Neosporin Antibiotic Ointment
Prevent infection and aid healing of cuts, scratches and other minor injuries with Neosporin antibiotic ointment from CVS Pharmacy. Neosporin helps kill bacteria on your skin, making it an essential first aid product and an ideal ointment to have on hand for cuts and scrapes occurring at home.
Is Neosporin an Antibiotic Ointment?
Neosporin is an antibiotic ointment that contains three antimicrobial ingredients active against a broad range of common pathogenic bacteria that can cause skin infections, such as impetigo, or systemic conditions, such as strep throat, pneumonia or pink eye. Applying Neosporin triple antibiotic ointment to skin injuries may help reduce your risk of developing an infection requiring treatment with oral antibiotics. It may help speed up healing and reduce discomfort by keeping the wound site clean, making it a good product to use before dressing and bandaging your wound.
Neosporin is also sometimes used to treat existing skin infections. Your doctor may recommend using Neosporin Original antibiotic ointment or a similar product to treat impetigo, minimizing side effects. However, some bacteria are resistant or unaffected by the active ingredients, so not all skin infections can be treated this way. Conditions covering larger areas of your body also usually require oral antibiotics.
Is Triple Antibiotic Ointment the Same as Neosporin?
Triple antibiotic ointment is the generic name for ointments containing neomycin, polymyxin and bacitracin — the ingredients in Neosporin. Products such as CVS Health Triple Antibiotic Ointment help prevent or treat skin infections similarly to Neosporin, and most products are suitable for the same conditions.
Some triple antibiotic creams also contain an analgesic ingredient to relieve pain. These products are often used as burn-relief creams because they help leave your skin feeling more comfortable while killing harmful bacteria.
Allergies to neomycin are common, and double antibiotic creams, such as Polysporin, exist as another alternative. These products can help reduce the risk of infections while being less likely to cause itching and other allergy symptoms.
How to Use Neosporin Antibiotic Ointment
To use Neosporin antibiotic ointment, start by washing your hands and the treatment area with mild soap and water to rinse debris away from the wound site. Dry your skin and apply a small amount of the ointment by fingertip, massaging a thin layer gently over your skin to help it absorb properly. If the injury is in an area difficult to keep clean or likely to touch the environment, you may wish to cover it with a bandage afterward to prevent contamination and assist the healing process.