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Mupirocin vs. Triamcinolone

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Mupirocin (Bactroban, Centany) and triamcinolone (Triderm, Triasil, Tritocin, Kenalog) are both topical medications used to treat skin conditions, but they belong to different medication classes and are used for different conditions. Mupirocin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial skin infections like impetigo, while triamcinolone is a corticosteroid used to treat inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Mupirocin is available as a cream and ointment and is applied three times a day for up to 10 days. Triamcinolone comes in various forms, including cream, ointment, lotion, and spray, and is applied two to four times daily, depending on the formulation. Mupirocin doesn't commonly cause side effects, but can cause headache and burning at the application site, while triamcinolone can cause skin irritation, dryness, and with long-term use more serious effects like skin thinning and adrenal suppression. Both medications are available as a lower-cost generic.

Mupirocin

 

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Triamcinolone

 

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Summary for Mupirocin

Prescription only

Mupirocin is a topical antibiotic that's used to treat small areas of bacterial skin infections such as impetigo or a "Staph" infection on the skin. It comes as a cream and an ointment that are applied onto the skin a few times a day for 10 days. This medication can be used on adults or children (over the age of 2 months for the ointment, and over the age of 3 months for the cream). Although mupirocin has very few side effects, some people can experience headache, nausea, or burning at the application site.

Indications for Mupirocin

  • Impetigo - ointment
  • Bacterial skin infection that happens after skin gets damaged (e.g., from a cut or other wound) - cream

Pros and Cons for Mupirocin

Pros

  • Can use for children as young as 2 months old (ointment) or 3 months old (cream)
  • Can easily apply directly where the skin infection is
  • Generally well-tolerated; few people experience side effects
  • Available as a lower-cost generic

Cons

  • Only available by prescription
  • Need to remember to use three times a day
  • Ointment might not be a good option for people with kidney problems because of risk of harm

Common Side Effects for Mupirocin

  • Headache (2%)
  • Burning, stinging, or pain at the application site (up to 2%; more common with ointment)
  • Rash (1%)
  • Nausea (1%)

Warnings for Mupirocin

  • Severe allergic reaction
  • Diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile infection
  • Development of hard-to-treat infections
  • Caution use in people with kidney problems (ointment only)

Summary for Triamcinolone

Prescription only

Triamcinolone is a topical corticosteroid used to treat different inflammatory skin conditions, like eczema psoriasis, or skin allergies, in adults and children. It works by reducing inflammation, redness, and irritation. The medication is available in various formulations, such as cream, ointment, lotion, and topical spray. Depending on the formulation, it's typically applied between 2 to 4 times a day. Side effects are rare, but can include burning, itching, and dryness at the application site.

Indications for Triamcinolone

  • Inflammatory skin conditions

Pros and Cons for Triamcinolone

Pros

  • Symptoms typically start to improve within a few days
  • Many formulations to choose from, such as ointment, cream, lotion, and spray
  • Might have less side effects compared to oral steroids that you take by mouth

Cons

  • For short-term use only
  • Children might absorb more of this medication, raising the risk of side effects
  • Needs to be applied multiple times a day

Common Side Effects for Triamcinolone

  • Burning
  • Itching
  • Skin irritation
  • Dry skin

Warnings for Triamcinolone

  • Reduced adrenal gland function
  • Skin infection
  • Skin problems

Prices with our coupons for Mupirocin vs. Triamcinolone

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Mupirocin1 tube / 22g of 2%
$11.84$17.13
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Triamcinolone1 jar / 430g of 0.05%
$68.06$881.83
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