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Neosporin is an antibody ointment that a person can use for modest skin injuries. However, it may not exist a viable handling option for acne.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting around forty–50 million people.

All the same, a person can manage this condition by using products formulated specifically for acne.

This article will look at whether or non Neosporin is an constructive treatment option for acne. Information technology also looks at some alternative acne treatments a person can try.

a woman using neosporin on her face for treating acne Share on Pinterest
Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are typically more effective at treating acne than Neosporin.

Gram-positive leaner chosen Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) commonly cause acne. When bacteria become trapped within layers of sebum, or oils under the skin, acne can form.

Closed acne, such as whiteheads, is more prone to inflammation, as P. acnes cannot escape to the surface of the skin. When this type of acne ruptures, the leaner spread underneath the skin, leading to pustules and cystic acne.

The advent of acne can vary, potentially appearing every bit:

  • whiteheads, which remain under the peel
  • blackheads, which appear on the surface on the skin
  • pimples, which are red bumps on the skin
  • pustules, which are red bumps filled with pus

Cystic acne is a severe form of acne that tin cause scarring. These scars can appear as:

  • icepick scars, which are tiny just deep
  • larger pitted scars
  • keloid scarring, in which scars are raised

Some people utilize Neosporin to treat acne and reduce the appearance of scars.

Neosporin is a combination antibiotic that prevents infection in minor cuts and burns. Its active ingredients are neomycin, polymyxin, and bacitracin.

Ii of these are not constructive against P. acnes. Bacitracin may be effective, but people primarily use it for dissimilar bacteria. Two of these three ingredients tin too cause allergic contact dermatitis.

The sections below will look at Neosporin'south iii active ingredients in more particular and explicate why they may non piece of work against acne.

Neomycin

According to some research, neomycin is effective against Gram-negative bacteria. However, Gram-positive bacteria, such as P. acnes, are resistant to it.

Another concern regarding neomycin is the loftier rate of contact dermatitis. Around 1–6% of people who use neomycin experience an allergic reaction.

Those who are not allergic to neomycin should use information technology topically, every bit it can exist toxic if a person ingests information technology.

Polymyxin

Polymyxin is also but constructive against Gram-negative bacteria. P. acnes is a Gram-positive bacterium. Also, information technology is not usually effective against bacterial pare infections on its own.

Studies take besides shown that it is not specially effective against bacteria that cause staph infections.

Bacitracin

Bacitracin is effective confronting Gram-positive bacteria, specially Staphylococcus aureus (which causes infections and illnesses such as abscesses and pneumonia) and Streptococcus pyogenes (which tin can cause strep throat).

Bacitracin is besides a mutual cause of allergic contact dermatitis.

Neosporin contains several ingredients, such equally cocoa butter and petroleum jelly, that may soften acne scars.

According to a 2016 commodity, petroleum ointments moisturize the skin, which may help foreclose scarring. The same commodity also suggests that cocoa butter does not piece of work more effectively on postsurgical scars than petroleum ointments.

The main benefit seems to arise from massaging and moisturizing the scars.

However, a person can detect the ingredients in Neosporin that soften the appearance of acne scars elsewhere.

Petroleum jelly is available online here.

Neosporin may cause allergic contact dermatitis if a person is allergic to any of the ingredients in it.

Allergy symptoms include:

  • itching
  • a rash
  • redness
  • swelling

Information technology is important to seek medical attention immediately if a person experiences difficulty animate or if they have ingested Neosporin.

A person tin use topical ointments for the treatment of acne, though they can also use oral medications, such as oral antibiotics.

Two topical treatment options include benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.

Benzoyl peroxide is effective against P. acnes. It is available in a diverseness of strengths and can come up in the form of a:

  • cream
  • gel
  • launder
  • cream
  • aqueous gel

These options tend to be available in both leave-on and wash-off formats.

Benzoyl peroxide reduces inflammation and stops the growth of the bacteria that cause acne. It can cause an allergic reaction, but a weaker forcefulness, water-based solution may react meliorate with sensitive pare. A person can use benzoyl peroxide one to three times per solar day.

Another topical treatment is salicylic acid. This is unlikely to crusade an allergic reaction, just it tends to be a less effective treatment.

Salicylic acid comes in both wash-off and go out-on formats. A person tin utilise salicylic acid one to 3 times per twenty-four hours and in conjunction with benzoyl peroxide.

Both salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are over-the-counter topical treatments.

Other options for treating acne include:

  • oral antibiotics
  • comedone (pimple) extractions, which allow for the physical removal of the blockage from the skin
  • chemical peels
  • laser treatment

When treating acne, a person tin follow these steps:

  • Cleanse the skin.
  • Medicate acne when necessary.
  • Moisturize the skin.
  • Protect against sunlight and UV exposure.

Additionally, the AAD suggest:

  • washing the skin twice per twenty-four hour period
  • using gentle skin care products
  • not scrubbing the pare
  • rinsing with lukewarm water
  • shampooing regularly
  • non picking or popping acne
  • not touching acne with the fingers

Moisturizing and protecting the skin from sunlight and UV exposure is especially important.

Moisturizer helps reduce peel sensitivity and irritation. Using a combination dominicus protection factor thirty moisturizer and dominicus protector can aid prevent hyperpigmentation, which results from skin irritation and inflammation.

However, a lot of sunscreens tin can cause skin irritation, and some moisturizers and sunscreens can block the pores, causing or exacerbating acne.

It is of import to try different options to see which products suit detail skin types.

Acne can be a painful pare condition. If information technology adversely affects a person's daily life, it is important to see a healthcare professional person or dermatologist to program a skin intendance regimen that will reduce the severity of the acne.

Yet, a person tin treat mild acne at dwelling house. Cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting the peel from sunlight can help forestall mild acne without requiring medical intervention.

Acne is a condition that affects many people.

It can vary from balmy to severe and may cause scarring. Nevertheless, a person can reduce scarring by massaging the pare with petroleum ointments. Maintaining a good pare care regimen may help reduce acne.

Neosporin is non the almost constructive treatment for acne. Only i of the three active ingredients may be effective against P. acnes, which is the nigh common bacterium that causes acne. Two of the active ingredients in Neosporin tin as well cause allergic contact dermatitis.

Some other constructive treatments include benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, especially when a person uses them in conjunction. Other treatments include oral antibiotics and chemic peels.