MEBO Ointment is NOT Recommended for Routine Facial Skin Care
MEBO (Moist Exposed Burn Ointment) is specifically designed and studied for burn wound treatment, not for general facial skin care, and should not be used as a cosmetic or maintenance skincare product.
Evidence Base and Appropriate Use
Approved Indication
- MEBO is an oil-based herbal paste formulated specifically for managing partial-thickness burn wounds 1, 2, 3
- All clinical evidence evaluates MEBO exclusively in the context of acute thermal burn injuries, not routine skincare 1, 2, 4, 3
Clinical Trial Context
- Studies comparing MEBO to silver sulphadiazine enrolled patients with acute partial-thickness facial burns requiring specialized burn center care 1, 2
- The 2020 Cochrane systematic review included only burn wound patients, with no data supporting use on intact, healthy facial skin 2
- Evidence shows MEBO may be comparable to silver sulphadiazine for burn healing time, but this applies only to burn wounds, not normal skin 1, 2
Why MEBO is Inappropriate for Facial Skincare
Lack of Safety Data for Healthy Skin
- No randomized controlled trials have evaluated MEBO's safety or efficacy on intact facial skin 2, 3
- The formulation is designed for damaged, burned tissue with compromised barrier function—not for maintaining healthy skin 5
- Potential risks of applying burn ointment to healthy facial skin include folliculitis, comedogenicity, and unnecessary occlusion 6
Superior Alternatives for Facial Care
For routine facial skincare, evidence-based recommendations include:
- Moisturization: Use urea- or glycerin-based moisturizers applied regularly to maintain skin barrier function 7
- Sun protection: Apply SPF 30 UVA/UVB sunscreen daily to prevent photodamage 6
- Gentle cleansing: Use soap-free cleansers and avoid alcohol-containing solutions 7
- Emollients: Apply appropriate emollients several times daily for dry skin, with ointments being more effective than water-based creams for very dry conditions 6
Critical Clinical Distinction
When MEBO May Be Appropriate (Burn Wounds Only)
- Acute partial-thickness facial burns requiring wound management 1, 2
- Advantages in burn wounds include minimal slough formation and easier assessment of healing progression compared to silver sulphadiazine 1
- Low-certainty evidence suggests MEBO may slightly reduce healing time compared to saline-soaked dressings in burn wounds (mean difference -1.7 days) 2
When MEBO is Inappropriate
- Intact healthy facial skin for cosmetic or preventive purposes (no supporting evidence) 2, 3
- Routine anti-aging or moisturizing skincare (not studied or indicated) 2
- Acne management (topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, and antibiotics are evidence-based) 6
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not conflate burn wound treatment with general skincare. The mechanisms that promote healing in damaged burn tissue (enhanced VEGF and bFGF production, granulation tissue formation) 5 are irrelevant and potentially problematic when applied to healthy facial skin that does not require wound healing 2.
Evidence Quality Assessment
- The evidence for MEBO even in its intended use (burn wounds) is predominantly low to very low certainty due to high risk of bias, small sample sizes, and unclear randomization procedures 2, 3
- For facial skincare specifically, there is no evidence whatsoever—only extrapolation from burn wound studies, which is clinically inappropriate 2, 3