Antibiotics are one of the most prevalent discoveries in the history of mankind and for good reason as they help to fight against harmful agents that could be circulating throughout your body. The buildup of bacteria can cause sepsis, shock, and even death if it is not dealt with immediately, which is one of the main reasons as to why antibiotics are so commonly prescribed by doctors around the world. Two types of antibiotics that you may have heard of are Neosporin and Polysporin. Although they are administered topically instead of orally, they all have the same purpose, to help get rid of bacteria that could result in an infection.
What are Antibiotics?
Also referred to as antibacterial medications, antibiotics are a type of prescribed drug that are designed to kill a variety of different types of bacteria. There are speciality antibitoics that are designed to help fight against certain strains of bacteria and others that are known as “broad-spectrum” and can battle against general strains of bacteria. When they are administered and taken, they have a bactericide effect, meaning that they address all of the different types of bad bacteria that you have in your system and works towards killing it. Once this process is completed, your body will have the ability to repair itself and start to kill off the bacteria on your own. Essentially, antibiotics also help to limit the amount of bacteria that is reproduced so that the healing process can begin sooner.
What is a Topical Ointment?
Like Neosporin and Polysporin, topical antibiotics can be quite useful for cuts and scrapes that you have on your body. These types of antibiotics are only to be used on the surface of the skin and should not be administered internally. It is important that you first consult with your doctor before using any type of medication, topical or not, to ensure that you do not have an allergy. Although both Polysporin and Neosporin are considered topical ointments, they do have a substantial amount of differences.
What is Neosporin?
Most people know Neosporin as a topical agent that is used to fight bacteria in open wounds. As per the benefits of regular antibiotics, this formula is used to help reduce the amount of bacteria in the wound so that it can begin to heal. As an antiseptic, it has 3 different ingredients that work towards reducing the chances of developing an infection. In fact, the medical community commonly refers to this formula as a “triple antibiotic ointment” as it contains Neomycin, Polymyxin B, and Bacitracin.
The main thing to take into consideration when it comes to Neosporin is the fact that you might be allergic to it. This is why you should consult with your doctor before applying it to an open wound and in the event that you are allergic to neomycin, your doctor will suggest that you refer to Polysporin instead for topical scratches and cuts.
What is Polysporin?
Much like Neosporin, Polysporin is another formula that gives you the ability to take care of any bacteria on cuts that you might have. With the help of this formula, your skin will begin to heal much faster than if you were to clean the cut and let it heal on its own. The only difference that the two formulas have is the list of ingredients that are incorporated into each. With Polysporin, it only has Polymyxin B and Bacitracin, which is why it is commonly prescribed to people that have had a prior incident related to being allergic to neomycin.
Where Can I Buy Neosporin and/or Polysporin?
If you’ve never used a topical antibiotic before, you might be wondering where you’d be able to buy it for your use. The best part is that even though they are great healing agents, they are also widely available from many stores in your area. Whether you go to big box stores such as Walmart or if you have a specialty local drug store in your area, there is a high probability that you’ll be able to find both Polysporin and Neosporin. There are also various different types of the agent, some with numbing effects, others that claim to speed up the healing process faster than the regular formula. Make sure that you read through the ingredients label to ensure that it contains everything that you would need to heal the wounds.
Since antibiotics are essential to making sure that your body does not suffer from an infection, it is imperative that you consider using an over-the-counter medication in the event that you experience any nicks, cuts, and/or scrapes. Both Polysporin and Neosporin are equally effective medications that you can find in your local store and although they are under different brand names, they work the same, though they have slightly different ingredients.
