Antibiotics vs Antiseptics
Before we can discuss different brands of antibiotic ointments, it’s important to touch on antibiotics and antiseptics. These two medicines are very similar in name and function, but they do have differences. Making sure you know how to properly use the two will help keep your wounds clean and quick to heal.
Antibiotics kill off bacteria and prevent them from spreading to the applied area, whereas antiseptics will only prevent bacteria from multiplying and spreading. Antiseptics are also affective against other microorganisms while antibiotics are only affective against bacteria. Even though they have very similar purposes, antibiotics are better for purging an area of bacteria versus antiseptics which are better at keeping an area clean after the bacteria or other microorganism has been killed.
Common OTC Antibiotic Ointments and Antiseptics
Neosporin: Antibiotic. Active ingredients: Neomycin sulfate, Polymyxin B, Bacitracin Zinc.
Variations:
- Neosporin+ pain, itch, scar, includes Pramoxine.
- Neosporin+ pain relief. Same as above.
- Neosporin+ burn relief. Same as above.
- Neosporin kids. Neomycin sulfate, and Polymyxin B. No Bacitracin.
- Neosporin Three Ingredient. Bacitracin, Polymyxin, Neomycin
Polysporin: Antibiotic. Active ingredients: Bacitracin Zinc, Polymyxin B.
Betadine: Antiseptic. Active Ingredient: Povidone-iodine.
Variations:
- Comes in: Dry powder spray (5%), cream (5%), liquid spray (5%), solution (10%)
Bacitracin: Antibiotic. Active Ingredient: Bacitracin Zinc.
Generic Triple Antibiotic: Active Ingredient: Bacitracin Zinc, Polymyxin B, Neomycin.
Difference in Ingredients
The differences in ingredients are very slight. All of the ingredients in antibiotic ointments serve similar purposes and have very little differences in their effectiveness. So, choosing which antibiotic ointment depends entirely on your allergies.
Pramoxine is a topical analgesic, which is why it is included in the pain and burn relief ointments. The reason bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin are sometimes dropped from the recipe is because they can be allergens. Neomycin is the most common allergen, then bacitracin, then polymyxin. Povidone iodine is also a rare allergen. “Triple Antibiotic” is just the non-name-brand form on Neosporin.
How to Use Antibiotic Ointments
Antibiotic ointments are to be applied lightly to a wound. Applying too much of the ointment may allow the bacteria on your body to become resistant to the antibiotic ingredient. Reapplying antibiotic ointments may be necessary to keep the wound from becoming infected. Depending on the location of the wound, the environment you are in, and how well you dressed the wound, infection may still be possible when antibiotics are applied. Regularly changing the bandage or dressing, washing the wound with soap and water, and even alternating antibiotic ointments can greatly reduce your risk of infection.
The Bottom Line
Choosing the right antibiotic ointment doesn’t have to be hard. All you need to make the best choice is to be aware of any allergies you have to antibacterial ingredients. It can be made of bacitracin, neomycin, and or polymyxin and still give you the same results. Iodine based products are also very helpful and great to have in your medicine cabinet. All OTC antibiotics are roughly the same, so if you don’t have skin allergies, you can use the cheaper ones. Grab an antiseptic to clean the wound, an antibiotic to keep it clean, and bandages to keep it protected.
