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Suggest Treatment For Inflammation On Skin After Applying Polysporin
Question: Had XXXXXXX Cell Carcenoma removed from his arm. He has stitches and was told to keep the area moist with something like vaseline. I mentioned Polysporin and both my husband and I remembered her saying "yeah". So he's been putting Polysporin on the stiches area and it started getting inflamed. He went back to the doctor and was told that the Polysporin caused the inflammation. He was put on an oral antibiotic. The area is very red and warm and hard. It's probably 3 inches long, but in a good area to observe it. Even though he's on oral antibiotics we need to know what else he can do short of running back to the doctor. He's taking 2 pills per day now for 2 days... what else can he do?
Brief Answer:
Cellulitis vs reaction to Polysporin
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
It is not uncommon to have an inflammatory reaction to topical antibiotic ointments. I hope he has discontinued the Polysporin. Clean vaseline is preferable.
It's not clear to me what the TMP/SMX DS antibiotic is being used for. Skin can develop a bacterial infection called cellulitis, and this typically is very hot, tender, and spreads. This particular antibiotic is not the best choice for cellulitis, if it is cellulitis he is dealing with, so I question it's use here.
It could, rather than cellulitis, be an inflammatory reaction to the topical antibiotic ointment.
If the doctor feels it is cellulitis, applying hot compresses or soaking in hot water will help decrease the infection. A different antibiotic (such as dicloxacillin or one in the cephalosporin family; or if he is allergic to penicillin family antibiotics, then clarithromycin or azithromycin are alternatives) may be a better choice if the red area is spreading.
If it is an allergic or sensitivity reaction to the Polysporin, then staying off of the offending ointment is needed, and hot compresses may ease the congestion. An antihistamine cream such as Benadryl may help.
But without being able to see it, I can't say which it is. If it is getting worse, then he should go in to be seen again.
Cellulitis vs reaction to Polysporin
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
It is not uncommon to have an inflammatory reaction to topical antibiotic ointments. I hope he has discontinued the Polysporin. Clean vaseline is preferable.
It's not clear to me what the TMP/SMX DS antibiotic is being used for. Skin can develop a bacterial infection called cellulitis, and this typically is very hot, tender, and spreads. This particular antibiotic is not the best choice for cellulitis, if it is cellulitis he is dealing with, so I question it's use here.
It could, rather than cellulitis, be an inflammatory reaction to the topical antibiotic ointment.
If the doctor feels it is cellulitis, applying hot compresses or soaking in hot water will help decrease the infection. A different antibiotic (such as dicloxacillin or one in the cephalosporin family; or if he is allergic to penicillin family antibiotics, then clarithromycin or azithromycin are alternatives) may be a better choice if the red area is spreading.
If it is an allergic or sensitivity reaction to the Polysporin, then staying off of the offending ointment is needed, and hot compresses may ease the congestion. An antihistamine cream such as Benadryl may help.
But without being able to see it, I can't say which it is. If it is getting worse, then he should go in to be seen again.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
When his doctor looked at the redness he said that if my husband hadn't mentioned the Polysporin he would have said it was infected. He prescribed the oral antibiotic to be on the safe side. The generic name for the Rx is SULPHAMETHOXAZOLE/TRIMETHOPRIM 800-160mg. Tomorrow will be the 3rd day for my husband to take it. I suggested the hot compress and to see how it looks in the AM. If it looks worse in any way he will be going quickly back to the doctor.
Right now it's red and warm and hard. Should he be going to the emergency room rather than what I suggested?
Is tomorrow AM okay?
Right now it's red and warm and hard. Should he be going to the emergency room rather than what I suggested?
Is tomorrow AM okay?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
It's hard to say whether to wait without seeing it, but it's important to make sure it isn't spreading and that he isn't feeling ill or like he has fever or chills. You can draw, lightly with pen, around the area of redness to keep track of whether the area is expanding or not.
I am familiar with that antibiotic (brand names are Bactrim DS and Septra DS). It is a sulfa based antibiotic which is often used for UTIs and upper respiratory infections, but is not for skin infections.
If the doctor thought it was a reaction to the Polysporin, the area should is unlikely to expand in redness.
I can't say which the hardness might be due to. And abcess can be hard, and needs to be drained. With an abcess, when you gently press on it, it can feel a bit like something is inside.
So...
draw a circle around it.
put hot compresses on it.
watch for increasing size, or increasing pain.
watch for signs of illness (fever, chills, etc)
and if it is expanding, getting worse in anyway, or he is feeling ill, go to the ER tonight.
Information
Detailed Answer:
It's hard to say whether to wait without seeing it, but it's important to make sure it isn't spreading and that he isn't feeling ill or like he has fever or chills. You can draw, lightly with pen, around the area of redness to keep track of whether the area is expanding or not.
I am familiar with that antibiotic (brand names are Bactrim DS and Septra DS). It is a sulfa based antibiotic which is often used for UTIs and upper respiratory infections, but is not for skin infections.
If the doctor thought it was a reaction to the Polysporin, the area should is unlikely to expand in redness.
I can't say which the hardness might be due to. And abcess can be hard, and needs to be drained. With an abcess, when you gently press on it, it can feel a bit like something is inside.
So...
draw a circle around it.
put hot compresses on it.
watch for increasing size, or increasing pain.
watch for signs of illness (fever, chills, etc)
and if it is expanding, getting worse in anyway, or he is feeling ill, go to the ER tonight.
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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