Superficial wounds like cuts and scrapes heal on their own. For seniors, however, more care and attention need to be paid to wounds because generally, the older we get, the longer it takes to heal. This is because skin gets more fragile as we age, and when the immune system is compromised or the person has a condition like diabetes, the healing process can become even longer and more complicated.
Over-the-counter topical ointments are a popular method to help heal wounds without having to visit a doctor and are a great first option before having to seek professional care. Slate Valley
CHC has a look at three of the most popular antibiotic ointments you can buy at the drugstore.
Bacitracin
Bacitracin can be found in just about every over-the-counter antibiotic ointment on the market. It’s an antibiotic that kills a broad range of bacteria that can be present in most wounds. In many cases, bacitracin is enough to kill any infections in the wound without the need for a prescription antibiotic. Sometimes, people do have an allergic reaction to bacitracin, which usually presents itself as redness, swelling, and itching of the skin.
Bacitracin and Polymyxin B (Polysporin)
The common brand name for this medication is Polysporin. Polymyxin B is effective against a group of bacteria called the gram-negative rods, so it provides better coverage than bacitracin alone. There is also a version of this double antibiotic that is used in eye medication.
Bacitracin, Polymyxin B, and Neomycin (Neosporin)
This triple antibiotic is known by the brand name Neosporin and is the most popular of the three. Neomycin works against the same bacteria strains as the other two ingredients, but it’s believed that it provides better coverage by working together with bacitracin and polymyxin B.
It’s important to note that if you suffered an animal bite or a puncture wound, a doctor’s care may be necessary. Also consult a doctor if your wound shows the classic signs of infection: added redness, swelling and warmth around the wound area, drainage or pus, and fever.
FAQs
A layer of polysporin or bacitracin ointment must be kept over the sutures until they are removed. You may leave the incision site covered or uncovered during the day it is your preference, however, we do recommend that a layer of the antibiotic ointment be kept over the sutures at all times.
What do hospitals use for wound care? ›
General treatment of nonhealing wounds
| Category | Examples |
|---|
| Hydrofiber | Aquacel, Aquacel-Ag, Versiva |
| Debriding agents | Hypergel (hypertonic saline gel), Santyl (collagenase), Accuzyme (papain urea) |
| Foam | LYOfoam, Spyrosorb, Allevyn |
| Hydrocolloid | CombiDERM, Comfeel, DuoDerm CGF Extra Thin, Granuflex, Tegasorb |
4 more rowsApr 24, 2020
Basic first aid for wound infections
- NEOSPORIN® Ointments & Creams – a triple antibiotic ointment which uses an effective germ-killing formula to provide 24-hour infection protection. ...
- Bacitracin – an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment that can help treat minor skin injuries and prevent infection.
A layer of polysporin or bacitracin ointment must be kept over the sutures until they are removed. You may leave the incision site covered or uncovered during the day it is your preference, however, we do recommend that a layer of the antibiotic ointment be kept over the sutures at all times.
What ointment is good for sore wounds? ›
Elastoplast Wound Healing Ointment can be used at any stage of the healing process on superficial open wounds and damaged skin. A moist healing environment has been clinically proven to aid and speed up the natural wound healing process.
What solution do hospitals use to clean wounds? ›
Sterile 0.9% sodium chloride solution is the most commonly used cleaning agent.
What medicine is used for wound care? ›
Drug Therapies
- Analgesics, or pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
- Antiseptics to clean contaminated wounds.
- Antibiotics for infections or sepsis, caused by disease-causing bacteria accompanied by a strong odor.
- Medicated dressings.
- Corticosteroids.
- A tetanus shot.
Antibacterial ointment
One review of 27 animal model studies showed that antibacterial treatments played a positive role in helping wounds heal faster.
What ointment cleans wounds? ›
Apply a thin layer of bacitracin antibiotic ointment or white petroleum to the wound. Cover with a bandage. Clean area twice daily with soap and water, and apply a new bandage and ointment after cleaning. There is no need to use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol for cleaning.
What is the antibiotic skin ointment for the wound? ›
List of Topical antibiotics
| Drug Name | Reviews |
|---|
| Polysporin First Aid Antibiotic Ointment Generic name: bacitracin / polymyxin b | 2 reviews |
| Neosporin Generic name: bacitracin / neomycin / polymyxin b | 2 reviews |
| Xepi (Pro) Generic name: ozenoxacin | 1 review |
| SSD (Pro) Generic name: silver sulfadiazine | 1 review |
59 more rowsHealing Creams
- Burt's Bees.
- Cortizone with az.
- Cortizone.
- Eucerin.
- Gold Bond.
- Kerasal.
- Nivea.
- Raw Sugar.
In general, creams are better than ointments for treating oozing or wet skin conditions like eczema. Creams evaporate much quickly than ointments and thus heals such conditions faster. Ointments are thicker. Since they stay longer on your skin's surface, they can add moisture to your skin and keep it hydrated.
What is the best anti inflammatory for wounds? ›
When patients have wounds with inflammatory disease as a cause of their wound-related pain, Dr. Brill uses naproxen (Naprosyn, Roche) or meloxicam (Mobic, Boehringer-Ingelheim). To those drugs, he will add an H2 receptor antagonist such as ranitidine (Zantac, Boehringer-Ingelheim).
What is the best antibacterial ointment for wounds? ›
These ointments can be used directly on the skin and help prevent and treat minor skin infections of small cuts, abrasions, scrapes, first-degree burns and stitched surgical wounds. NEOSPORIN®, POLYSPORIN®, and Bacitracin are the three most popular antibiotic ointments.
What is the best thing to put on a healing wound? ›
Put on an antibiotic or petroleum jelly.
Put on a thin layer of an antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly to keep the surface moist and help prevent scarring. Ingredients in some antibiotic ointments can cause a mild rash in some people. If you get a rash, stop using the ointment.
Should you put ointment on an infected wound? ›
Overall, topical antibiotics are suggested for use on infected wounds only; in instances where a wound's “bioburden is interfering with healing” and when there is an “increased risk of serious outcomes”.
What do hospitals use to close wounds? ›
These include sutures, staples, and adhesives. For many minor wounds, sutures are the gold-standard method for closure. In a case where you have a linear laceration located on the scalp or extremities, it is a reasonable alternative to use staples. The advantage is that they can be placed quickly.
How do hospitals treat deep wounds? ›
Your doctor will drain or debride the wound and often prescribe an antibiotic if bacterial infection develops. In serious cases, you may need surgery to remove infected tissue and sometimes the surrounding tissue as well.
What do nurses use to clean wounds? ›
Use normal saline, potable or sterile water, or non-cytotoxic wound cleansers for wound cleansing. Normal saline is recommended for all types of wounds because it does not damage human tissue. Potable water is also recommended for most wounds.
What is the surgical dressing used in hospital? ›
Commonly Used Wound Dressings
- Gauze dressings. Gauze dressings are a type of traditional wound dressing made of woven cotton or synthetic fibers. ...
- Non-adherent dressings. ...
- Hydrocolloid dressings. ...
- Foam dressings. ...
- Alginate dressings. ...
- Transparent film dressings. ...
- Hydrogel dressings. ...
- Collagen dressings.
