Does Neosporin Plus Pain Relief expire?

Yes, Neosporin Plus Pain Relief expires. Check the date on the box or tube of ointment. Don't use the medication after this date. Expired medications [might not work as well](https://www.goodrx.com/drugs/safety/expired-medications) and can potentially cause unwanted side effects. If your Neosporin Plus Pain Relief is expired, [throw it away](https://www.goodrx.com/drugs/medication-basics/expired-unused-medication-disposal) and get a new one from the pharmacy.

Does Neosporin Plus Pain Relief help heal cuts and burns faster?

Neosporin Plus Pain Relief helps prevent infection and keeps wounds clean and moist. This is important for helping minor cuts and burns [heal](https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2004/0601/p2647.html). But we don't know if Neosporin Plus Pain Relief helps wounds heal any faster than other [first-aid](https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/environmental/build-first-aid-kit) antibiotics.

Can you use Neosporin Plus Pain Relief on babies?

Don't use Neosporin Plus Pain Relief on a baby unless a healthcare professional told you that you can. Neosporin Plus Pain Relief isn't approved for use in children younger than 2 years old. It's usually [not recommended](https://www.aocd.org/page/DiaperDermatitis) because some ingredients in the ointment can cause allergic reactions in young children. Ask a healthcare professional about other options.

Can you use Neosporin Plus Pain Relief while pregnant?

Ask a healthcare professional if you can use Neosporin Plus Pain Relief while pregnant. They can discuss the safest options to treat any minor cuts and burns you get while pregnant.

bacitracin / neomycin / polymyxin B / pramoxine

Generic Neosporin Plus Pain Relief

Used for Wound Care

Neosporin Plus Pain Relief is a topical ointment that contains many ingredients: three antibiotics (bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B) and a medication for pain (pramoxine). It's used for minor burns, cuts, and scrapes to prevent skin infection. It also helps temporarily relieve pain from these injuries. Neosporin Plus Pain Relief is for people 2 years and older. You can apply the ointment to the affected area(s) of the skin 1 to 3 times a day. Most people have few to no side effects while using Neosporin Plus Pain Relief as directed.

Reviewed by:

Ally Tsai, PharmD

Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD

Last reviewed on April 7, 2025

What is Neosporin Plus Pain Relief?

What is Neosporin Plus Pain Relief used for?

Preventing infections and providing short-term pain relief from small cuts, scrapes, and minor burns

How Neosporin Plus Pain Relief works

Neosporin Plus Pain Relief is a combination of four ingredients that help prevent infection and relieve pain.

Bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B are antibiotics. Bacitracin and polymyxin B kill bacteria by disrupting their protective outer coverings. Neomycin kills bacteria by stopping them from making proteins they need to survive.
Pramoxine is a local anesthetic. It stops nerve endings from sending pain signals in parts of the skin that's injured.

Are you looking for information on Neosporin Original (bacitracin / neomycin / polymyxin) topical ointment instead?

Drug facts

Common BrandsNeosporin Plus Pain Relief

Drug ClassTopical antibiotic

Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication

Generic StatusLower-cost generic available

AvailabilityOver-the-counter

Side effects of Neosporin Plus Pain Relief

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

Side effects aren't common. See "Other Side Effects."

Less Common Side Effects

Itching
Skin rash
Redness
Swelling

Source: DailyMed

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Avg retail price

$11.16(Save 41.31%)

GoodRx discount

$6.55

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Pros and cons of Neosporin Plus Pain Relief

Pros

Relieves symptoms of pain and helps prevent bacterial infection at the same time for minor injuries
Has very few side effects, so it's safe for most people if used as directed
Available over the counter

Cons

Only prevents some bacterial infections, not fungal or viral infections
Not meant to be used for more than 7 days without consulting a healthcare professional
Can't use for deep or large wounds

Pharmacist tips for Neosporin Plus Pain Relief

Only use Neosporin Plus Pain Relief on the surface of your skin. Don't put this medication in your mouth or swallow it. And don't put it in your eyes, nose, or ears.
Before applying Neosporin Plus Pain Relief, wash your hands and clean the affected area(s) of your skin. This helps getting more germs in the wound.
After you put on Neosporin Plus Pain Relief, make sure to wash your hands. This keeps the medication from getting into places like in your eyes or mouth.
You can cover the area with a clean bandage after applying Neosporin Plus Pain Relief. This helps protect the area from irritation and more germs.
Only use Neosporin Plus Pain Relief on small cuts, scrapes, or burns. You shouldn’t use it to cover large areas of the body or for serious injuries. Get advice from a healthcare professional if you've gotten an animal bite, deep wound, or serious burn.
Stop using Neosporin Plus Pain Relief and talk to a healthcare professional if you've been using it for more than a week or if your symptoms (like skin pain) come back after getting better. Also tell them if your wound has gotten worse or hasn't healed after a week. They can check to make sure it's not infected.
Keep Neosporin Plus Pain Relief up and out of reach of children. This prevents them from accidentally getting to the medication and swallowing it. Always put it away after every time you use it. If you think that your child might’ve swallowed Neosporin Plus Pain Relief, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 right away, even if you're not sure.

Common questions about Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine

Yes, Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine expires. Check the date on the box or tube of ointment. Don't use the medication after this date. Expired medications might not work as well and can potentially cause unwanted side effects. If your Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine is expired, throw it away and get a new one from the pharmacy.

Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine helps prevent infection and keeps wounds clean and moist. This is important for helping minor cuts and burns heal. But we don't know if Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine helps wounds heal any faster than other first-aid antibiotics.

There aren't studies that show that Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine directly helps with scars. But it might help prevent scars by preventing infections and helping the skin to heal. Other Neosporin products, like Neosporin Plus Pain, Itch, Scar, are marketed to help make scars look better by keeping the skin healthy. Talk to a healthcare professional about how to get rid of scars.

Don't use Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine on a baby unless a healthcare professional told you that you can. Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine isn't approved for use in children younger than 2 years old. It's usually not recommended because some ingredients in the ointment can cause allergic reactions in young children. Ask a healthcare professional about other options.

Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine isn't usually recommended for diaper rash in children. Some ingredients in it can cause an allergic reaction in some children. Only use it if a healthcare professional says it's okay. Adults with diaper rash should also talk to a healthcare professional before using Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine to make sure it's the right choice.

No. Don't use Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine on a skin infection, even if you already have the ointment at home. This ointment is only meant to help prevent skin infections and relieve pain. It doesn't help fight off an infection. Using it on an infection might make things worse, especially if there's a better antibiotic you should be using. If your cut looks red, swollen, or has pus coming out, talk to a healthcare professional right away.

Ask a healthcare professional if you can use Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine while pregnant. They can discuss the safest options to treat any minor cuts and burns you get while pregnant.

There are many Neosporin products you can get over the counter to use on your skin for first aid. Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine and Neosporin Original have the same three antibiotics: bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B. These antibiotics help prevent skin infections after a minor injury. But Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine also has pramoxine, which temporarily helps with pain. Ask a healthcare professional about which Neosporin product is best for you.

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Risks and warnings for Neosporin Plus Pain Relief

Neosporin Plus Pain Relief can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

Allergic reaction

Don't use Neosporin Plus Pain Relief without talking to a healthcare professional first if you're allergic to any antibiotics. Also ask them before using if you've had a reaction to a similar medication in the past. Watch for signs of an allergic reaction, like swelling, rash, or itchy skin. Stop using Neosporin Plus Pain Relief and tell a healthcare professional if you have a reaction to the ointment.

Use only on your skin

Only use Neosporin Plus Pain Relief on your skin. Don’t put it in your eyes, nose, mouth, or ears. If you think that your child might’ve accidentally swallowed this medication, call your Poison Control Center right away at 1-800-222-1222.

Neosporin Plus Pain Relief dosage

The average cost for 1 tube of 28g of 500units/3.5mg/10000units/10mg of Neosporin Plus Pain Relief is $6.55 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 41.31% off the average retail price of $11.16.

Tube of ointment

Dosage	Quantity	Price as low as	Price per unit
28g of 500units/3.5mg/10000units/10mg	1 tube	$6.55	$6.55

Typical dosage for Neosporin Plus Pain Relief

Adults and children 2 years and older: Apply a small amount of ointment (about the size of the tip of your finger) to the affected area(s) of skin 1 to 3 times daily.
Children under 2 years old: Ask a healthcare professional.

How much does Neosporin Plus Pain Relief cost?

To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.

Neosporin Plus Pain Relief (generic)

GoodRx lowest price

$6.55

(save 41.31%)

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What are alternatives to Neosporin Plus Pain Relief?

There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Neosporin Plus Pain Relief. Compare a few possible alternatives below.

Neosporin Plus Pain Relief

Used for:

Preventing infections and providing short-term pain relief from small cuts, scrapes, and minor burns

$6.55Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

Neosporin

Used for:

Preventing infections in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns

$7.42Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

References

Best studies we found

American Family Physician. (2004). Cuts, scrapes, and stitches.

American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. (n.d.). Diaper dermatitis.

Kenvue Brands. (n.d.). Caring for everyday injuries.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

Common questions about Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine

Ask a healthcare professional if you can use Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Pramoxine while pregnant. They can discuss the safest options to treat any minor cuts and burns you get while pregnant.

bacitracin / neomycin / polymyxin B / pramoxine