NEOSPORIN + Pain Relief Ointment helps prevent infection and provides maximum strength pain relief from minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. When you or a loved one has a minor injury, you want it to heal as quickly as possible.

Formulated for wound care, this first-aid ointment contains the antibiotics bacitracin zinc, neomycin, and polymyxin B, to help protect against infection. The topical ointment also contains the topical analgesic pramoxine HCl, which provides relief from itchy, painful wounds.

Minimize the appearance of scars while preventing infection and relieving itch and pain. Introducing the first and only NEOSPORIN® Antibiotic Ointment that addresses 5 areas of wound healing: Minimizes the appearance of scars.

It's the neomycin! Neomycin frequently causes allergic reactions of the skin called contact dermatitis. It can cause the skin to become red, scaly, and itchy. The more Neosporin you use, the worse the skin reaction gets.

Neosporin is used to help prevent skin infections in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns, as these wounds heal. But it's not meant to treat animal bites, serious burns, or deep puncture wounds - those might require medical attention.

"It is a common source of allergic contact dermatitis," which can cause itchy, pink splotches or a rash, Dr. Hirsch says, adding that it was named the 2010 Allergen of the Year by the American Contact Dermatitis Society.

How to relieve itchy skin

• Apply a cold, wet cloth or ice pack to the skin that itches. Do this for about five to 10 minutes or until the itch subsides.
• Take an oatmeal bath.
• Moisturize your skin.
• Apply topical anesthetics that contain pramoxine.
• Apply cooling agents, such as menthol or calamine.

This cream from the #1 doctor-recommended brand not only helps fight infection for 24 hours, but also soothes and reduces pain without any sting.

Strataderm Professional Scar Therapy Gel This powerful gel contains silicone, which is considered the most effective topical treatment for scars. "Silicone gel improves the barrier function of the skin's outer layer,” says Alpana Mohta, MD, a dermatologist in Bikaner, India.

Apply anti-itch creams (on overly itchy scars). Use cool compression on the scar to reduce the itchy sensation. Gently wash the scarred area to remove any extra dead cells that may be causing additional irritation.

Use this medication on the skin only. However, do not use it on the face or underarms unless directed to do so by your doctor. Some products are meant to be used on the scalp for various conditions. To correctly use these products, follow the directions on the product package.

Once your cut or wound has been cleaned, the next step is to apply antibiotic ointment, such as NEOSPORIN® First Aid Antibiotic Ointment. Apply a thin layer to your wound to kill bacteria and stop infection before it starts.

Due to the loss of the good microorganism defenses, fungal and other microorganisms take advantage and cause infection. Furthermore, Neosporin active ingredients pose a risk of allergic reactions (2) and irritation to skin.

Myth #3: A topical antibiotic cream improves wound healing. A study comparing white petroleum ointments (such as Vaseline or Aquaphor) with an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin, Neosporin or Bacitracin) showed no significant difference in wound infection rate.