Cuts, Scrapes & Stitches: How To Care For Your Wound

Should I put Neosporin on this? This is a question that I frequently am asked after performing a skin procedure in the office. The short answer to this is no. I recommend treating non-infected wounds with good, old Vaseline or Aquaphor. Antibacterial ointments can be irritating to wounds and certain people can even develop into allergic contact reactions with repeated usage. Petroleum-based emollients have been shown to increase the rate of skin regrowth and reduce scarring. Clinical studies have found that non-infected wounds do not heal faster with antibacterial ointments vs petroleum-based emollients.

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It is not necessary to use an antibiotic ointment in order to prevent an infection. Gently cleaning your wound with mild soap and water daily and applying a petroleum-based emollient should prevent development of wound infection and expedite the wound healing process. It is normal for healing wounds to have a pink rim. If any wound becomes bright red with yellow thick drainage it is important to contact your dermatology provider for evaluation.