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Neosporin
The Neosporin family of products consists of prescription and nonprescription medicines. The first aid products help treat pain and prevent infections in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. Potential side effects may include reddening of the skin, allergic skin reactions, and itching. Do not use this medication for more than a week at a time, as your body may build up a resistance to it.
Neosporin® is a group of prescription and nonprescription products. This article refers specifically to the nonprescription first aid ointments and creams, not the prescription eye, ear, or bladder products, or the over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal or lip products, as most people use the term "Neosporin" to refer to the first aid products.
Neosporin first aid products are approved to prevent infection in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. Some products, which also contain a pain-relieving ingredient, are approved to provide temporary relief of pain or discomfort due to minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.
There is some evidence that using Neosporin for first aid can help minimize scarring and speed healing time.
Because this product is an inexpensive and readily available antibiotic, people have come up with a variety of different uses for it, some of which make sense and others that are not advisable.
(Click Neosporin Uses for more information on this topic, including possible off-label uses.)
Neosporin is made by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD