Is Neosporin Good for Acne Scars?

There is no definitive proof that Neosporin can work to heal acne and eliminate acne scars. This is due to the lack of ingredients like benzoyl peroxide. Furthermore, Neosporin cannot tackle Propionibacterium acne, which is responsible for acne.

Back in the day when you scraped your knee, your mother likely nursed you with a dab of Neosporin and a bandage. It appeared to eliminate the discomfort and made your cuts heal in the blink of an eye. Now you're older and handling acne. It would make good sense to use Neosporin to heal your acne scars and acne, wouldn't it? Neosporin is a popular triple antibiotic lotion. It is effective in healing wounds and moisturizes healing cuts, so they don't scar. However, it will not kill the bacteria that trigger cystic acne and pimples.

What Is Neosporin?

Defining Neosporin

Neosporin is an antibiotic ointment. Johnson & Johnson have manufactured it for over 25 years now. Its specialized formula is made up of three different kinds of prescription antibiotics polymyxin B, neomycin, and bacitracin, and is typically utilized as a first aid tool to keep dirt and bacteria out of cuts and abrasions.

Neosporin and Acne Scars

Can Neosporin help scars?

Acne is a typical illness that shows up as pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, or other swollen skin spots. When it gets serious, it can trigger scars. Although acne frequently happens in preteens and teenagers, people of every age are impacted. They show up anywhere on the body. Oil manufactured by the sebaceous glands keeps your skin hydrated. Acne occurs when these glands produce too much of that oil, which then creates a blockage in your pores, the small openings on your skin's surface. Acne can take place due to internal or external irritants, though many cases are brought on by germs and can be activated by hormonal changes.

Understanding that bacteria play a key role in the look of pimples and other sores, you might be tempted to go for an over-the-counter antibiotic, such as Neosporin, to deal with acne. Theoretically, this will not only not work, but also, can make it worse.There is no definitive proof that Neosporin can work to heal acne and eliminate acne scars. Its chemical formula is much more powerful and doesn't dry out the face as much as normal acne treatments, which contain ingredients like benzyl peroxide. Some who have actually use Neosporin have actually reported that it helped in reducing the inflammation and appearance of acne. Nevertheless, others say it has made their acne even worse, likely due to its petroleum oil base that can further obstruct pores if large amounts are used on the face. Johnson & Johnson advises users to avoid putting Neosporin on a big area of the body for a long time.

Best Use for Neosporin on Acne

Is it bad to put Neosporin on pimples?

Since Neosporin can minimize redness and induce recovery, individuals can use it in small amounts to help avoid acne scars. The best method to use Neosporin is to dab on a freshly-popped pimple. The Neosporin will work to keep out bacteria and minimize redness in the short term.

What can I put on a popped pimple overnight?

Sometimes you can touch your face and pick at your zits and pimples until they pop open and bleed. Whether intentionally or by mistake, you quickly regret it. The scar left behind becomes worse than the actual acne itself. Now, we are well beyond the prevention stage, and the focus turns to heal your picked acne for a better looking, scar-free face.

First, hold the temptation of picking the acne again, just stop. Keep your skin tidy. Wash your face with mild soaps and continue to with your facial acne treatments of choice. However, you're not just recovering a scab. Even if you believe you popped your pimples, there's still pus and infection deep below the skin where you can not see. You have to treat both the acne infection and the scabs. A cleansed face will likewise be less likely to get more contaminated and will heal faster. Use a washcloth with warm water and press it carefully to the afflicted area for some minutes. This dampens the scab; a dried scab is most likely to be picked at as they itch and this goes against what you are trying to achieve.

Is it OK to put Neosporin on a popped pimple?

Finally, after following the recommendations above, here is where Neosporin can be applied on the picked acne and facial scabs to act as an antibiotic cream. Other antibiotics like teas tree may do the job better as tea tree is an antiseptic that will help little injuries in addition to the acne. This will assist your broken skin heal as it would any usual scrape or scab. Finish by applying a liquid bandage, which will be invisible against the face.

The effectiveness of Neosporin for acne

Is Neosporin good for acne?

Neosporin is one of many triple antibiotic lotions or gels that contain polymyxin, bacitracin, and neomycin to fight infections. It appears sensible to presume it could kill the germs that cause acne also; however, this will not usually be true. At any given time, there's a small possibility that a pimple might have been caused by a type of bacteria that Neosporin can handle. In those rare cases, Neosporin would combat the cause and most likely heal the acne. However, the majority of the time acne is brought on by Propionibacterium acnes, a specific type of germs that Neosporin does not tackle.

The effectiveness of Neosporin for pimples, cystic acne, and acne scars

Neosporin does not eliminate the most common acne-causing bacteria, so it won't generally be effective at combating pimples or cystic acne. Due to the fact that it has lots of moisturizing, skin-healing oils in its components, Neosporin may momentarily tame irritation and likewise heal areas of damaged, broken skin. This may create an impression that it is treating the acne, when in fact it's simply recovering some of the damage done by that acne.

The skin-soothing moisturizers in Neosporin, consisting of cocoa butter, cottonseed oil, olive oil, and vitamin E, may very well soften acne scars too; however, there are far more reliable methods to achieve all of these skin objectives without the use of an antibacterial. You can find the same ingredients in items that are cheaper and with a lower possibility of being harmful than Neosporin could be.

There is one circumstance where Neosporin need to be applied to breakouts, including pimples or cystic acne, which is when the acne becomes infected. This can occur when you pop a pimple, or it ulcerates and bleeds, this can lead to you getting a bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. Healthy skin normally fights off these bacteria; however, an open injury offers the ideal chance to enter your body. The petroleum jelly in Neosporin creates a healing environment and protective barrier, fending off additional germs. Infection is most likely the only excuse to use Neosporin for acne.

How to Heal Acne Without Neosporin?

Treating acne at home

You can use a variety of self-care remedies in your home to prevent pimples and to clear up your acne. Home remedies for acne include:

Cleaning your skin daily with a moderate soap to remove excess oil and dirt
Avoiding picking or squeezing pimples, this spreads out germs and excess oil
Using noncomedogenic makeup that does not clog the pores
Not wearing hats or tight headbands
Shampooing your hair routinely and keeping it out of your face

Medication for acne

Over-the-counter acne medications

If self-care solutions don't aid with your acne, a number of over-the-counter acne medications are readily available. The majority of these medications contain components that can assist kill bacteria, open pores, or reduce oil on your skin. These components include

Benzoyl peroxide which exists in many acne creams and gels. It's used for drying existing pimples and avoiding fresh ones. Benzoyl peroxide also kills acne-causing germs.
Sulfur is a natural component found in some masks, lotions, and cleansers. It has a distinct smell.
Salicylic acid is typically contained in soaps and acne washes. It helps prevent pores from getting plugged.
Resorcinol is a component that's used to eliminate dead skin cells.

Prescription acne medication

In some cases, symptoms may persist. If this is so, you might wish to seek medical advice. Your dermatologist can recommend medications that may help in reducing your signs and avoid scarring. Oral or topical prescription antibiotics eliminate the bacteria that trigger pimples and reduce swelling. Usually, antibiotics are just used for a brief amount of time so that your body doesn't develop resistance.

Prescription topical creams such as prescription-strength benzoyl peroxide or retinoic acid are more powerful solutions than non-prescription treatments. These work to minimize oil production and open pores. Women with hormone acne may be treated with birth control pills or spironolactone. These medications control hormones that can trigger acne through the reduction of oil production.

Isotretinoin (Accutane) is a vitamin-A-based medication that's utilized to deal with particular cases of serious nodular acne. It can cause severe side effects, and it's just utilized when other treatments have actually stopped working.

Medication for extreme acne conditions

Your physician might recommend further procedures to deal with extreme acne and avoid scarring. These work by eliminating damaged skin, opening pores or minimizing oil production:

Dermabrasion for acne

This procedure removes the top layers of your skin with a turning brush and would be best utilized to treat acne scarring rather than a treatment for acne. Microdermabrasion, a milder alternative, helps open pores and eliminates dead skin cells.

Photodynamic therapy for acne

This procedure uses medication and a special laser to decrease oil production and minimize germs. Other lasers may be utilized alone to assist improve acne or scarring.

Chemical peel for acne

This basically gets rid of the top layers of your skin. That skin peels off to reveal less broken skin beneath. They also help open pores and can improve moderate acne scarring.

Cortisone for acne

If your acne has a large cyst, your doctor might suggest using cortisone injections. This is a steroid produced by your body. It can minimize inflammation and speed healing. Cortisone is typically utilized together with other acne treatments.

Side effects of using Neosporin for acne

Incorrect or excessive usage of antibacterials is not harmless. When people use these medications frequently, bacteria develop a resistance to them, and they become less effective, even versus bacteria that they used to eliminate rapidly and easily. Utilizing Neosporin for acne when it isn't required could increase the risk and seriousness of future skin infections.

Long term use of Neosporin and other anti-bacterial ointments can also wear away at the skin's protective layers. This makes the skin more likely to develop other complications. The petroleum jelly in Neosporin makes it hard for the skin to breathe, making clogged up pores and acne a lot more likely. Other, much less common adverse effects are normally connected to an allergy, and consist of:

When to see a medical professional for acne scars?

If your acne is severe and you have no luck with OTC medications, your doctor can assist you to choose the next course of action. This may include prescription medications or other treatments. In case of an infection or a serious side effect, do not hesitate to seek medical attention.

Conclusion on using Neosporin for acne scars

As you can see, there are far much better and more effective choices than Neosporin when dealing with acne. If you're dealing with significant acne, your best bet is to speak with a dermatologist. Often, prescription ointments are merely the only choice for clear skin.

Remember that the only time Neosporin will be effective, from a clinical perspective, is when dealing with popped pimples and when you want to avoid scarring. Even then, test it on your skin initially-- behind your ear or under the jaw - to ensure you don't have any allergic reactions.