From the Guidelines
The best topical wound care ointment for minor wounds is petroleum jelly (Vaseline), as it provides an effective moisture barrier that keeps the wound clean and prevents scabbing while the body heals itself. For most clean, minor cuts and scrapes, petroleum jelly is a suitable choice, as it maintains a moist environment that promotes healing 1. According to the guidelines on interventions to enhance healing of foot ulcers in people with diabetes, there is no strong evidence to support the use of topical antiseptic or antimicrobial dressings for wound healing of diabetes-related foot ulcers 1.
Some key points to consider when using topical wound care ointments include:
- Applying a thin layer to the wound after gently cleaning with mild soap and water
- Covering the wound with a sterile bandage
- Changing dressings daily to keep the wound clean and moist until healing occurs
- Avoiding the use of topical antiseptic or antimicrobial dressings, as they have not been shown to improve wound healing outcomes 1
- Seeking medical attention promptly for deeper wounds, burns, animal bites, or wounds showing signs of infection, as these may require prescription antibiotics or other specialized care.
It is essential to note that the evidence to support positive impact on wound healing of surface antiseptics or antimicrobials is inconsistent, and where present, the effect size was small with low certainty of evidence 1. Therefore, petroleum jelly (Vaseline) is a recommended choice for minor wounds, as it provides a moist environment that promotes healing without the potential risks associated with topical antiseptic or antimicrobial dressings.
From the FDA Drug Label
Silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% is a topical antimicrobial drug indicated as an adjunct for the prevention and treatment of wound sepsis in patients with second and third degree burns. The best topical wound care ointment is Silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% for the prevention and treatment of wound sepsis in patients with second and third degree burns 2.
From the Research
Topical Wound Care Ointments
- The best topical wound care ointment can depend on various factors, including the type of wound, patient's condition, and desired outcome.
- A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 3 compared the wound healing properties of Aquaphor Healing Ointment (AHO), Neosporin, and Polysporin using a laser wound model, and found that AHO demonstrated fast and effective improvements in several wound healing parameters compared to antibiotic-containing treatments.
- Another study published in the International journal of surgery (London, England) 4 reviewed the use of povidone iodine in wound healing and found that it has a broad spectrum of activity, ability to penetrate biofilms, lack of associated resistance, anti-inflammatory properties, low cytotoxicity, and good tolerability.
Antimicrobial Wound Dressings
- Antimicrobial wound dressings have emerged as a promising approach for bioburden control and wound healing 5.
- A study published in the Journal of wound care 6 compared the antimicrobial activity of selected, commercially available wound dressing materials and found that silver-containing dressings, such as Mepilex Ag, had the highest activity against all four tested strains of bacteria.
- The use of topical antibiotic irrigation in orthopedic surgery has also been studied, with findings suggesting that triple antibiotic solution (neomycin, polymyxin, and bacitracin) provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity 7.
Key Findings
- Aquaphor Healing Ointment (AHO) demonstrated fast and effective improvements in wound healing parameters compared to antibiotic-containing treatments 3.
- Povidone iodine has a broad spectrum of activity, ability to penetrate biofilms, lack of associated resistance, anti-inflammatory properties, low cytotoxicity, and good tolerability 4.
- Silver-containing dressings, such as Mepilex Ag, had the highest antimicrobial activity against all four tested strains of bacteria 6.