Which Is the Best Antibiotic Ointment? Polysporin, Neosporin, or Bacitracin

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When you get a cut or scrape, you may find yourself reaching for the first-aid kit to clean, bandage, and care for the wound. One common product found in first-aid kits is an antibiotic ointment, such as Polysporin (bacitracin / polymyxin B), Neosporin (bacitracin / neomycin / polymyxin B), or bacitracin. These products help prevent or treat infection. All of these ointments are available over the counter (OTC), so you can buy them without a prescription.

But what are the differences between these antibiotics ointments? And if you're considering purchasing one to keep at home, which one should you choose? It's also helpful to know when to use an antibiotic ointment and when it's best to avoid one.

Read on to learn what you need to know about Polysporin, Neosporin, and bacitracin.

What are antibiotic ointments?

Antibiotic ointments are medications that are applied topically - on the skin - to help kill bacteria. Healthcare professionals often use them to treat minor skin injuries such as scrapes, cuts, or burns. Using antibiotic ointments is one part of caring for skin wounds. It's also important to clean and sometimes bandage an injury.

Antibiotic ointments don't help with pain, inflammation, or itching. But they do help treat and prevent infection. These symptoms can happen with infections, so treating an infection can help relieve this discomfort. Infected wounds may become more painful, red in color, or swollen. And infections can lead to serious health consequences if left untreated.

Polysporin vs. Neosporin vs. bacitracin

The OTC antibiotic ointments Polysporin, Neosporin, and bacitracin are useful for minor skin injuries, such as cuts, scrapes, and burns. Below is some basic information to know about each of these OTC antibiotic ointments. It's important to keep in mind that cost may vary, especially if you're purchasing a generic or store-brand version.

Instructions for use

Instructions on how to use Polysporin, Neosporin, and bacitracin are the same for each product. First, clean the skin injury area with soap and water. Then, apply a small amount (about the size of the tip of your finger) on the wound 1 to 3 times daily. Cover the area with a bandage if needed.

You should apply the ointment after cleaning the wound. If a wound doesn't easily stay closed with a bandage or other basic dressing, you should seek the help of a healthcare professional. You may need stitches, sutures, or another treatment.

Good to know: Neomycin is a common cause of contact dermatitis, a type of allergic skin reaction. This ingredient is found in Neosporin, but not in Polysporin or bacitracin. If you have a history of contact dermatitis or sensitive skin, it may be a good idea to avoid using antibiotic ointments that contain neomycin.

What is the best antibiotic ointment?

OTC antibiotic ointments are more effective at preventing infections than not using an antibiotic. But there's very little research that shows differences in how well particular products work. So, choosing the best antibiotic ointment for you will depend on your preferences, allergies, and recommendations (if any) from a healthcare professional.

Neosporin contains three active ingredients, whereas Polysporin contains two and bacitracin contains one. Keep in mind, having more active ingredients doesn't necessarily mean the ointment will work better. For some wounds, bacitracin may work just as well as Polysporin or Neosporin. Your healthcare professional can let you know if your wound requires treatment with more than one antibiotic.

It's also good to keep any allergies and sensitivities in mind when choosing an antibiotic ointment. For example, if you're allergic or sensitive to polymyxin B, then bacitracin would be the best choice. That's because Neosporin and Polysporin both contain polymyxin B. And if you're allergic or sensitive to neomycin, either Polysporin or bacitracin would be acceptable.

Are there types of injuries that you should not treat with OTC antibiotic ointments?

You shouldn't use topical OTC antibiotic ointments on serious injuries such as:

• Moderate-to-severe burns

• Puncture wounds

• Deep wounds

• Animal bites

You should avoid using these products on infections or wounds caused by a virus or fungus (yeast). Antibiotics are ineffective for these infections. Using antibiotic ointments when they're not needed might cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics. This could make it harder to treat future bacterial infections.

You should also avoid applying OTC antibiotic ointments to closed boils (reddish skin lumps filled with pus). Since these medications won't penetrate closed (unbroken) skin, it won't kill any bacteria causing the boil. These situations usually require oral prescription antibiotics, and a healthcare professional may need to drain the boil.

You should consult a healthcare professional if your wound doesn't improve in about 1 week or if it's getting worse. For certain types of skin wounds, you may need prescription topical antibiotics, such as mupirocin (Centany) or metronidazole (Metrogel).

In most cases, antibiotic ointments aren't used to treat insect stings or ingrown hair. You should also avoid applying these products to an infant diaper rash, unless a pediatrician gives you instructions to do so.

What parts of the body should you not put OTC antibiotic ointment on?

You shouldn't use OTC antibiotic ointments on your eyes, nose, mouth, or over large areas of your body. You also shouldn't use them around the genital area unless a healthcare professional tells you to do so. If you apply too much ointment or if you get it in your eyes, you can rinse the area with water. If there is concern that you or someone else has swallowed an OTC antibiotic ointment, contact a healthcare professional or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

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