Topical Antibiotics are medicines applied to the skin to kill bacteria.
Purpose
Topical Antibiotics help prevent infections caused by bacteria that get
into minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. Treating minor wounds with Antibiotics
allows quicker healing. If the wounds are left untreated, the bacteria will
multiply, causing pain, redness, swelling, itching, and oozing. Untreated
infections can eventually spread and become much more serious.
Different kinds of Topical Antibiotics kill different kinds of bacteria.
Many antibiotic first-aid products contain combinations of antibiotics to
make them effective against a broad range of bacteria.
When treating a wound, it is not enough to simply apply a Topical
Antibiotic. The wound must first be cleaned with soap and water and patted
dry. After the antibiotic is applied, the wound should be covered with a
dressing, such as a bandage or a protective gel or spray. For many years, it
was thought that wounds heal best when exposed to the air. But now most
experts say it is best to keep wounds clean and moist while they heal. The
covering should still allow some air to reach the wound, however.
Description
Some topical antibiotics are available without a prescription and are sold
in many forms, including creams, ointments, powders, and sprays. Some widely
used topical antibiotics are Bacitracin, Neomycin, Mupirocin and Polymyxin
B. Among the products that contain one or more of these ingredients are
Bactroban (a prescription item), Neosporin, Polysporin, and Triple
antibiotic Ointment or Cream.