• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
BlackDoctor.org
Where Wellness & Culture Connect

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

  • Health Conditions
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Longevity
  • Resource Centers
    • Cancer Resource Center
    • Covid Resource Center
  • Find A Doctor
  • BDO TV
Home / Health Conditions / Skin Problems / Should You Use Antibiotic Creams on Your Skin?

Should You Use Antibiotic Creams on Your Skin?

antibiotics

As winter winds leave your skin dry, cracked and prone to cuts and bleeding, a skin expert says you should resist the urge to use antibiotic creams or ointments.

While it might seem sensible to use antibiotic topicals to combat germs and prevent infection with cuts, they can irritate your skin even more and cause a painful and/or itchy rash called contact dermatitis, dermatologist Dr. Marcelyn Coley warns.

“In addition to causing irritation and a rash, the widespread use of antibiotics — including in instances when they aren’t needed — has contributed to a major public health challenge known as antibiotic resistance,” Coley said in an American Academy of Dermatology news release.

What is antibiotic resistance?

“Antibiotic resistance occurs when germs, such as bacteria, develop the ability to survive the drugs designed to kill them,” she explains. “That means the germs continue to grow. This makes infections caused by antibiotic-resistant germs difficult — and sometimes impossible — to treat.”

You May Also Like
15 Natural Remedies for Aches and Pains

RELATED: 3 Ways You’re Misusing Antibiotics – Without Even Knowing It

When are antibiotics needed?

Most minor cuts and wounds, and even surgical wounds, do not require antibiotics, Coley shares.

The only time antibiotics are typically needed is when there is an infection. Signs of infection include:

  • Pus
  • Pain
  • Yellow crusts
  • Red or purple skin
  • Reddish streaks
  • Swelling or warmth
  • Feeling very hot or cold
  • Fever

What are the alternatives to antibiotics?

If your wound doesn’t have any signs of an infection, skip the antibiotics and take the following steps instead, Coley advises:

Continue Reading

The Latest In Skin Problems

home remedies for sunburn

Home Remedies For Sunburn

 With summer officially here, many of us are starting to ramp up our planning for summer activities. As you spend more time outside in the sunlight, on the beach, and on outdoor excursions, it is crucial that you provide protection read more about Home Remedies For Sunburn
sunscreen

6 Common Places You Forget To Apply Sunscreen

The warm months are here and if you love the beach and sun as much as I do, you will definitely be showing some skin. A lot of times we slap on sunscreen because we know we need to, but read more about 6 Common Places You Forget To Apply Sunscreen
travel essentials

Traveling This Summer? Here Are 5 Essentials You Need

Listen, traveling all year round is the goal but it’s definitely more common to see many travelers during the spring and summertime. It’s absolutely amazing to see so many people want to travel the world and explore all it has read more about Traveling This Summer? Here Are 5 Essentials You Need
sunburn

Black Might Not Crack But It Can Burn

It’s still common for African Americans to believe that they don’t need sunscreen as much as other ethnicities. However, while the melanin in Black skin has some protective elements, it’s not enough to keep your skin from being damaged by read more about Black Might Not Crack But It Can Burn
skin

The Skincare Diet: Tips For Protecting Your Skin From The Inside Out

When it comes to healthy skin, what you put into your body can be just as important as what you use on it. Though researchers continue to finalize all the links between what people eat and their overall health, a read more about The Skincare Diet: Tips For Protecting Your Skin From The Inside Out
glowing skin

Keep Your Skin Glowing With Good Health

As summer draws near and we prepare to show more skin, you'll want to make sure your skin is glowing and healthy. Being good to your skin is a vital part of your health, and dermatologists have 10 ways to read more about Keep Your Skin Glowing With Good Health

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to our newsletter

Poll

Popular Posts

  • Marjorie Harvey: Fit, Fine & 57!Marjorie Harvey: Fit, Fine & 57!
  • Snoop Dogg & Wife: 26 Years And Still Going StrongSnoop Dogg & Wife: 26 Years And Still Going Strong
  • Halle Berry: Over 50 ‘Just Keeps Getting Better With Time’Halle Berry: Over 50 'Just Keeps Getting Better With Time'
  • LL Cool J & Wife Simone Smith Celebrate 25 Years Married: “We Celebrate Life”LL Cool J & Wife Simone Smith Celebrate 25 Years Married: "We Celebrate Life"
  • Queen Latifah Sheds Light on BMI Chart Flaws: “I’m Just Thick”Queen Latifah Sheds Light on BMI Chart Flaws: "I'm Just Thick"

Podcast

Footer

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

BDO is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Learn More About

  • Hepatitis C
  • Diabetes
  • Sickle Cell
  • Mental Health
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy
  • Daily Vitamina
  • TBH

Copyright © 2022, BlackDoctor, Inc. All rights reserved.