Neosporin 20 g (Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B)

Shop Neosporin 20 g (Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B)

Neosporin 20 g (Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B) has been sitting in medicine cabinets across the country for longer than most of us can remember. There is a good reason for that. It packs three different antibiotics into one ointment, and each one goes after bacteria in its own way.

Bacitracin messes with how bacteria build their cell walls. Neomycin throws a wrench into their protein production. And Polymyxin B breaks down the outer layer of certain bacteria.

That triple action is exactly why this combination handles such a wide range of common skin bacteria.

What Is Neosporin 20 g Used For

Neosporin 20 g is mostly about prevention. You put it on minor cuts, scrapes, abrasions, and small burns to stop bacteria from setting up camp in the wound. Broken skin is basically an open door for germs. A thin layer of this ointment acts like a shield while the antibiotics do their job underneath.

One thing people sometimes get wrong is reaching for Neosporin when a wound is already clearly infected. If you are seeing spreading redness around the area, warmth radiating from it, pus draining out, or you are running a fever, that has moved past what an over-the-counter ointment can handle. At that point, you really need to talk to a doctor.

How to Apply Neosporin 20 g

Start by washing the wound with some mild soap and water. Nothing fancy. Pat it dry gently. Then, squeeze out a thin layer of the ointment and spread it right over the wound. If you want, throw a sterile bandage on top.

You can do this anywhere from one to three times a day. Something a lot of people do not realize is that slathering on extra ointment does not speed things up. A thin coat gets the job done just fine. Also, keep it away from your eyes, the inside of your nose and mouth, and do not spread it across large sections of your body.

Side Effects of Neosporin

Most folks use Neosporin without running into any trouble at all. Every now and then, someone might get a bit of irritation right where they applied it. Maybe some redness or mild itching. That is pretty normal and usually not a big deal.

What fewer people know is that Neomycin, one of the three ingredients, is actually a fairly well-known trigger for contact dermatitis. Out of all the topical antibiotics out there, Neomycin tends to cause skin reactions more often than the others.

So if you put Neosporin on a cut and the skin around it starts looking angrier than before, gets puffy, breaks out in a rash, or feels like it is burning more with each application, that is your cue to stop using it.

Get in touch with a pharmacist or doctor at that point. Full-blown allergic reactions are not common, but they can happen.

Precautions to Keep in Mind

This ointment is built for the small stuff. A paper cut, a kitchen scrape, a mild burn from touching something hot. If you are dealing with a deep wound, a puncture, an animal bite, or a burn that covers a large area, skip the Neosporin and go see someone who can properly evaluate it.

Using it on the same spot for weeks on end without a doctor’s input is not a great idea either. There is a real concern about bacteria becoming resistant when you overuse topical antibiotics, and your skin can also develop a sensitivity to the ingredients over time.

If you already know you are allergic to Bacitracin, Neomycin, or Polymyxin B, this one is obviously not for you. Women who are pregnant or nursing usually get the green light for a small area application, but it still makes sense to run it by a doctor first, just to be safe.

Available Strengths

• Neosporin Original Ointment 14 g (0.5 oz)
• Neosporin Original Ointment 20 g
• Neosporin Original Ointment 28.3 g (1 oz)
• Neosporin + Pain Relief Ointment (this one adds Pramoxine HCl for numbing)
• Neosporin + Burn Relief Ointment
• Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy

Substitutes

• Polysporin Ointment contains Bacitracin and Polymyxin B, but leaves out the Neomycin, which is a popular pick for anyone who has had a reaction to Neomycin before
• Generic Triple Antibiotic Ointment from most pharmacies has all three of the same active ingredients at the same strengths.
• Equate Triple Antibiotic Ointment is Walmart’s store brand version.
• Up and Up Triple Antibiotic Ointment is Target’s version of the same thing.
• Bacitracin Ointment is a simpler option with just one antibiotic.
• Curad Triple Antibiotic Ointment is another branded alternative.

Storage

Keep the tube at room temperature and away from too much heat or humidity. Make sure the cap is on tight after every use. And check the expiration date before you squeeze any out.

Once it is past its date, the ingredients may not work as well as they should.

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