What is the Best Ointment For Open Wounds?
Most minor wounds can be treated at home by stopping bleeding, cleaning it thoroughly and covering with sterile dressings. For severe cuts or burns, please seek medical advice from a medical provider.
Antibiotic ointments available over-the-counter help treat and prevent infection for minor cuts and scrapes. Common ingredients include bacitracin and polymyxin B; when selecting one for yourself it depends on factors like availability, cost and allergic reactions to its ingredients.
Neosporin Antibiotic Ointment
Neosporin is an antibiotic ointment designed to prevent infection in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. Containing first aid antibiotics bacitracin zinc and polymyxin B sulfate as well as petrolatum to keep wounds moist, Neosporin can be applied up to three times a day as part of any first aid kit and used on most skin types safely for an extended period of time. You should conduct skin sensitivity tests prior to long term usage as it may cause temporary burning itching redness that subsides within a few days of application – however avoid applying Neosporin near eyes, nose or mouth as this product cannot be applied directly onto eyes, nose or mouth wounds!
Antibacterial products work by breaking down bacterial cell walls, stopping their growth and multiplication, and killing any remaining bacteria present in a wound. Antibiotic treatments may be useful in treating injuries including minor cuts, abrasions (superficial wounds caused by scraped or torn skin), sprains and strains, first degree burns and stitched surgical wounds; many times used with basic bandaging like gauze pads or Band-Aid brand adhesive bandages for added protection.
But Neosporin may cause allergic reactions in some individuals, particularly if it contains neomycin. An allergic reaction typically manifests itself through contact dermatitis that results in red, itchy and scaly skin; many mistake this reaction for signs of infection and continue using Neosporin, further worsening their rash. If allergic to Neomycin altogether it should be avoided entirely to ensure optimal skin health.
Studies have generally demonstrated that antibiotic ointments such as Neosporin and Bacitracin reduce the risk of infection in uncomplicated wounds; however, their efficacy doesn’t compare favorably to antiseptics such as hydrogen peroxide and placebos in terms of infection reduction rates. Furthermore, antibiotic use can lead to resistance development – this being why white petrolatum products such as Vaseline should be preferred as wound care solutions.
Aloe Vera Ointment
Aloe vera (scientifically known as Aloe barbadensis) has long been used as a medicinal plant. Its thick leaves store water and produce sticky gel that’s used to heal wounds and burns on skin, acting as an antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral remedy. Aloe vera contains vitamins, minerals, sugars that soothe sunburns while speeding healing times faster; plus its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce swelling that often comes with sunburns.
Finding aloe vera products over-the-counter that contain its main ingredient is ideal, and this can be easily done by reading the ingredients list on its label. Some companies add skin soothing ingredients such as glycerin and camellia oil (in Innisfree Vitalizing Soothing Gel) or purslane (Dr. Barbara Sturm Aloe Vera Gel).
Aloe vera can be easily obtained at your local grocery or health food store. The clear gel inside its leaves contains over 751 potentially active compounds – vitamins, minerals, sugars, salicylic acid and amino acids among others – making aloe an invaluable plant in dry climates for skin care, hair care, medicinal uses or simply aesthetic. Aloe has long been revered in civilizations across time for medicinal, cosmetic and skin-care uses alike.
Researchers conducted a clinical trial and discovered that patients treated with aloe vera experienced faster healing of wounds than those not using the plant, as well as reduced burn pain significantly; though further proof is required before concluding its effectiveness for other forms of injuries.
Aloe vera can also help prevent UV-induced suppression, which slows the healing rate for radiation burns on skin damaged by exposure. Furthermore, its soothing qualities may make it useful for minor wounds like cuts and scrapes that occur due to radiation damage.
Even though new botanical ingredients are entering the market, it’s wise to remember that some may contain unknown benefits. Therefore, it’s best to rely on products with long histories like aloe vera that have proven themselves over time and can be applied directly onto skin injuries such as sunburn. This product has proven itself safe for most users and can even treat wounds quickly and effectively.
Petroleum Jelly Ointment
Petroleum jelly (petrolatum) has long been a standard item in medicine cabinets. Used since ancient times to prevent skin drying and heal scrapes and burns, as well as used as the base of many antibiotic-containing ointments to treat common infections and diseases like eczema, it serves an invaluable purpose in keeping skin soft. Studies suggest it contains compounds which could potentially be carcinogenic; for maximum skin safety choose triple-distilled formulations of petroleum jelly for your daily needs.
Petroleum jelly acts as a moisture barrier on skin to preserve hydration levels, making it suitable for conditions like chapped lips and itchy eyes, as well as irritated or scaly areas. Furthermore, it can protect minor cuts and scrapes from environmental germs that might slow healing time; furthermore it can prevent chafing caused by friction between legs or other body parts rubbing together preventing chafing altogether.
Aspartame is commonly found in baby care products like diaper rash cream and lip balm. Additionally, it can be used as a skin moisturizer, treating conditions like eczema and psoriasis as well as treating cold sores, insect bites, hair dye removal or as hair dye remover.
Although many use petroleum jelly for sexual lubrication, it should not be used this way as it can lead to allergic reactions in some individuals and clog pores on oily or acne-prone skin. Furthermore, petroleum jelly may also be absorbed through breathing into the bloodstream and cause toxic reactions in some individuals; to minimize risks related to its use it’s wiser to only apply small amounts and only as directed; consult a dermatologist if concerned; they can suggest other options with similar benefits with less risk of irritation or infection.
Hydrogel Ointment
Hydrogel ointment provides protection from bacteria while simultaneously keeping wounds moist and fresh. It aids autolytic debridement by clearing away dead tissue and debris while supporting epithelialization and granulation processes. Furthermore, its cooling sensation provides relief from pain while helping to reduce edema. Furthermore, its transparent design enables users to track wound healing progress, with easy application/removal without further trauma being caused to wounds.
Product use includes chronic wounds, pressure ulcers and burns. It can be applied directly or under dressings. Hydrogel products come in various sizes and formats such as gel creams with up to 90% water content for providing skin hydration; hydrogel impregnated pads provide effective relief of necrotic wounds; partial-thickness wounds, minor burns or radiation damage may require use; while hydrogel sheet dressings feature transparent films with non-adhesive borders to allow cut to size applications of hydrogel products on wounds of various thickness.
Important to remember when treating Stage III or IV pressure ulcers is that ointments do not effectively absorb heavy exudate; therefore, another dressing must be added in order to absorb this exudate and stop further wound degradation. Hydrogel dressing combined with alginate dressing will do just this and should be combined for maximum efficacy in this instance.
Recent research compared the breathability and moisturizing effect of different products used for moist wound management – petrolatum, Tyrosur(r) CareExpert Wound Gel and semi-occlusive ointment with dexpanthenol among them – against one another to measure basic parameters of moist wound care management. Results demonstrated that hydrogel ointments offered superior moisturization performance than petrolatum in terms of restoring wound moisture balance more quickly.
Hydrogel ointments offer several distinct advantages over creams that may clog wound pores, including impermeability to bacteria and use on various skin types – making them safe even for sensitive skin types.
