What is the Best Ointment for Wounds?

Wound management is a crucial part of medical care, particularly in cases of injuries, cuts, and other types of wounds. Many individuals turn to the internet to learn about wound gels and their potential benefits in wound healing.

Here are some commonly used ointments, and some real-world applications and uses for them (or where you may see the most commonly).

Silver Sulfadiazine:

This antimicrobial wound cream, also known as SSD, is primarily used to prevent infections in burn wounds. It is effective against a broad range of bacteria and is commonly used when a bacterium known as Pseudomonas is suspected of infecting the wound.

Bacitracin/Neosporin/Polysporin:

These antibiotic ointments are effective against various types of bacteria and are commonly used to prevent infection in minor cuts and abrasions.

Mupirocin:

Mupirocin is the only topical antibacterial that can eliminate MRSA. It is also frequently used to prevent infection in minor cuts and abrasions.

Clindamycin:

Clindamycin is an antibiotic cream that is effective against a broad range of bacteria. It has numerous uses, from treating infections between toes to abscesses and cellulitis.

Santyl:

This topical medication is utilized to manage chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and venous stasis ulcers. It contains collagenase, an enzyme that breaks down collagen making it a unique enzymatic debriding agent.

Hydrogel:

A generic type of gel with no antibiotic properties but helps keep the wound moist to allow it to heal better. Hydrogel overall is a versatile material with a wide range of applications, particularly in the field of medicine.

Ointment/Cream Varies by Choice

So back to the original question of the post: what one is best? The answer is that there is no true "best." The other things to consider is that there are many, many creams and ointments that are not listed here.

It is critical to remember that the gels and ointments themselves do not facilitate wound healing - it is the body that possesses the ability to heal. Often, the difficulty in healing a wound is related to an underlying health issue such as diabetes, poor blood flow, or malnutrition.