Is Neosporin Good For Eczema?

Managing eczema, a group of skin conditions that can cause dry skin, itchiness, and infections, can be stressful. Especially when the symptoms affect your quality of life, like interfering with your sleep.

Common eczema treatments include bathing with a gentle cleanser, moisturizing with a soothing, itch-relieving moisturizer, and applying over-the-counter (OTC) medicines like hydrocortisone.  

But some people anecdotally report that Neosporin also helps to reduce their eczema symptoms. Though Neosporin can prevent many bacterial infections from developing, there isn’t enough evidence to support its use as a general eczema treatment. In fact, some people may have a reaction to the product, which can make their eczema symptoms worse. 

This article will help you understand more about the potential benefits and risks of using Neosporin when you have eczema. 

What Is Neosporin?

Neosporin is an OTC antibiotic ointment used to treat minor scrapes, cuts, and other minor skin infections.

Many at-home and school first aid kids come equipped with Neosporin, which is applied to a wound before bandaging with a band-aid or similar adhesive.

Ingredients in Neosporin

Neosporin’s Original antibiotic ointment contains three active ingredients: 

• Bacitracin zinc.
• Neomycin sulfate.
• Polymyxin B sulfate.

Additional, inactive ingredients in neosporin include:

• Petrolatum.
• Gossypium herbaceum (cotton) seed oil.
• Europaea (olive) fruit oil.
• Theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter.
• Sodium pyruvate.
• Tocopheryl acetate.

How It Works

The three active ingredients in Neosporin work together to prevent bacterial infections of the skin.

Specifically, bacitracin works by blocking bacteria cell walls from synthesizing while neomycin targets and binds to specific parts of bacterial cells to block bacterial protein  synthesis. Polymyxin B works alongside neomycin to disrupt the cell membrane and ultimately kill the bacterial cells. 

Neosporin is a topical ointment, which means it’s applied to the outer layer of the skin. The three active ingredients in Neosporin act as a barrier to protect the wound from infection while creating an environment that blocks bacterial growth and development. 

Common Uses 

The Neosporin Original antibacterial ointment is used for minor cuts, scrapes, burns and infections of the skin.

One randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study found that the active ingredients in Neosporin significantly reduced the rate of infection in minor skin wounds. However, additional research has found that wound cleaning alone can be just as effective as Neosporin without the risk of allergic reactions. 

According to the Neosporin website, it can also be used to minimize the appearance of scars.

Is Neosporin Good for Eczema?

Using Neosporin can help to prevent your eczema from getting infected, but it’s important to weigh the potential benefits and risks when using Neosporin with eczema. 

Potential Benefits

Neosporin Original’s antibiotic ointment works to kill bacteria and can help to prevent your eczema from getting infected.  

Though eczema is not a bacterial skin infection, it can increase the risk of developing one. 

Skin infections are common with eczema because the condition weakens the skin barrier, making the outer layer of skin less protective against irritants, including bacteria.

Bacterial infections are the most common secondary infection for people with eczema. Specifically, staph infections (infections caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus) occur more often in people with eczema than in the general population. 

Neosporin can help to kill staph and other bacteria to prevent eczema from getting infected. However, it’s not the first-line treatment for preventing staph infections in eczema, since it only protects against methicillin-susceptible staph bacteria (MSSA) but not methicillin-resistant staph bacteria (MRSA). Dilute bleach baths or mupirocin (a topical, prescription antibiotic ointment) are preferred for recurrent or suspected staph infections. 

But Neosporin won’t work to prevent every type of skin infection. And if your eczema is already infected, you should consult with a dermatology expert to determine the most effective course of treatment.

Risks and Concerns

The main concern when using Neosporin with eczema is a skin reaction called contact dermatitis. 

Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin reaction that occurs when the skin comes in contact with an irritant or allergen. Irritants and allergens can vary from person-to-person, which is why some people may have a reaction to Neosporin and some may not. Neomycin, one of the ingredients in Neosporin, commonly causes allergic contact dermatitis.  

Many of the ingredients in Neosporin have the potential to cause contact dermatitis, but the ingredient most likely to cause an adverse reaction is the antibiotic neomycin. In 2010, the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS) named neomycin as the contact allergen of the year. 

If you apply Neosporin to your eczema and develop contact dermatitis, this will increase inflammation of the skin and other eczema symptoms, including redness and swelling. 

Another possible risk when applying Neosporin to eczema is overuse. Frequent and prolonged use of Neosporin can lead to antibiotic resistance, which can result in prolonged infections that are harder to treat. 

Dermatologist Opinions

Most dermatology experts don’t recommend using Neosporin in general if you have eczema. Some of their key concerns of using Neosporin if you have eczema include:

• High risk of allergic dermatitis due to neomycin.
• Potential skin irritation from bacitracin and preservatives.
• Limited effectiveness for eczema-related infections.
• Risk of antibiotic resistance from overuse.

Alternatives to Neosporin for Wound Healing

People with eczema are at a higher risk of developing a neomycin allergy, which also means you become allergic to the class of medications (aminoglycoside antibiotics) that are used to treat systemic infections that have few alternatives. 

Many dermatology experts recommend Polysporin as an alternative for wound healing. Polysporin contains the same active ingredient as Neosporin without neomycin. 

Alternatives to Neosporin for Eczema Treatment

There are several ways to treat eczema and manage symptoms. Some of these treatments require a prescription while others are OTC or natural remedies. 

Depending on your health history and symptoms, you may want to reach out to a dermatology expert to discern which option or options are best for you.  

Medical Treatments

Some of the most common medical treatments for eczema include:

• Steroid creams: Hydrocortisone is a common corticosteroid treatment used for eczema. It is available OTC and via prescription.‍
• Prescription ointments: Other prescription ointments can also be used to treat eczema, including pimecrolimus and tacrolimus. Your provider may recommend these types of medications if your eczema doesn’t respond to steroids, if you’re unable to take steroids or if your eczema is located in a more sensitive area, like the groin or face.
• ‍Other dermatologist-recommended options: One dermatologist-recommended Neosporin alternative is plain petroleum jelly (Aquaphor or Vaseline, etc.). Other possible treatments include oral prescription medications, antihistamines to reduce itching and phototherapy. If your eczema is infected, your provider or dermatologist may recommend a prescription of mupirocin. 

Natural Remedies

Below are some natural remedies some people may use for their eczema symptoms. However, not all of the below remedies have been shown to be effective at treating eczema.  

• Aloe vera: Aloe vera gel comes from the aloe plant, a cactus that grows in hot, dry climates. There is some evidence to suggest aloe vera gel may have some antibacterial properties and may help to reduce burn pain and improve the rate of burn healing. However, there isn’t sufficient evidence to show that aloe vera gel can treat eczema. In fact, some research shows that topical use of aloe vera gel can trigger eczema symptoms.
• ‍Colloidal oatmeal: Creams with 1% colloidal oatmeal have been shown to help treat eczema, either in conjunction with other treatments or on its own. One randomized controlled trial from 2020 found that 1% colloidal oatmeal ointment improved skin pH, skin barrier function and skin hydration in people with eczema. Another double-blind study also from 2020 found that 1% colloidal oatmeal ointment administered alongside fluocinolone 0.025% ointment helped to reduce the severity of eczema symptoms in people.
• ‍Coconut oil: The National Eczema Association recommends virgin coconut oil as one of the top natural treatments for eczema. The additive-free moisturizing oil can help soothe symptoms, including dryness, associated with eczema.
• ‍Sunflower seed oil: Another natural alternative recommended by the National Eczema Association is sunflower seed oil, which may help to reduce itchiness, rashes and improve the skin barrier.
• ‍Other options: One systematic review and meta-analysis from 2022 found that acupuncture can help to reduce the severity of the disease and improve symptoms in people with atopic and chronic eczema. 

Best Practices for Managing Eczema

There are several things you can do to help keep your skin hydrated and prevent eczema flare-ups. These best practices include:

• Using a gentle cleanser when bathing.
• Frequent moisturizing with a fragrance-free moisturizer, especially after bathing.
• Avoid fragrances, perfumes and other scented products.
• Manage stress.