bacitracin / polymyxin B non-prescription

Polysporin and Neosporin are two different medications that are applied onto your skin to prevent bacterial skin infection after minor injury. Both medications contain bacitracin and polymyxin B. But Neosporin also contains neomycin, which is another antibiotic. You can get both Neosporin and Polysporin over the counter.

Polysporin is an ointment that has two active ingredients: bacitracin and polymyxin B. Both of these active ingredients are antibiotics that help prevent an infection by killing or weakening bacteria around your injury.

No, Polysporin shouldn’t be used to treat an active skin infection. This medication is only meant to help to prevent an infection, not to fight off an infection. Don't use Polysporin to treat a skin infection even if you already have it at home. Doing so might make your infection worse since it might not be the right medication for the infection. See a provider right away for appropriate treatment if your cut looks red, swollen, or has pus coming out.

Polysporin helps prevent a skin infection from small cuts, scrapes, and burns. It isn't clear whether the ointment itself can heal wounds. But in general, preventing a skin infection from developing can help with this process. Covering your wound with a bandage after you've applied Polysporin can also help with wound healing since it protects the skin from further harm.

Yes. Applying Polysporin to a blister can help prevent an infection, especially if the blister breaks and some raw skin gets exposed. In addition, one of the inactive ingredients of Polysporin is petrolatum, which can also help lessen friction when your skin rubs against something. Blisters typically take 1 to 2 weeks to get better. While you wait for your blister to go away, make sure you cover it with a bandage and avoid draining it to prevent infection as well.

Yes, Polysporin can expire. Always check the expiration date on the tube before you use it. Don't use the medication if it's expired because it might not work well to prevent skin infections. Discard the expired tube and purchase a new one over-the-counter.

Yes, Polysporin is available as a lower-cost generic medication over the counter. You can purchase this medication at most pharmacies. Please note that Polysporin is only used to prevent infections, not to treat one. Talk to your provider right away if you need to use this medication for longer than a week, if your wound is getting worse, or if you get a skin rash.