Trippy Tara wrote:
Forgive me if this is not in the right forum, but I am just wondering-is safe to use Neosporin on a pimple or if it will make it worse?

I ask because I have a cystic pimple (ew!) and it is very VERY red and very VERY painful! I know Neosporin helps cuts and takes redness away so I am wondering if it will have the same effect on my horrible pimple.

I usually don't break out but I am stressed from school and I have no idea what to do about this pimple and it is only stressing me out more!

If you know of anything else that might help feel free to tell me!

1. Don't touch it with your fingers as this will make it worse.
2. Wash your hand with an anti-bacterial soap before you do touch it to treat it

Extreme heat works really well to kill bacteria so if you do not have an electric unit from a dermatologist's office then try this...

Take a spoon and place it in boiling water.
Allow it to sit for a good 30 seconds or so.
Place a clean piece of cotton fabric (ex. t-shirt meterial) across the affected area
Take the spoon and lay it onto the material so you can feel the heat of it on the blemish.
DO NOT push.
Allow the heat to penetrate the area

You can repeat these steps a few times a day.

The heat should kill some of the bacteria promoting healing of the blemish.

PLEASE be careful not to burn the skin as it is already sensitive.

If you feel the need to medicate the area use a drying agent such as Serious Skin Care's Liquid Belmish Lotion.

Jilladair Carlson wrote:

1. Don't touch it with your fingers as this will make it worse.
2. Wash your hand with an anti-bacterial soap before you do touch it to treat it

Extreme heat works really well to kill bacteria so if you do not have an electric unit from a dermatologist's office then try this...

Take a spoon and place it in boiling water.
Allow it to sit for a good 30 seconds or so.
Place a clean piece of cotton fabric (ex. t-shirt meterial) across the affected area
Take the spoon and lay it onto the material so you can feel the heat of it on the blemish.
DO NOT push.
Allow the heat to penetrate the area

You can repeat these steps a few times a day.

The heat should kill some of the bacteria promoting healing of the blemish.

PLEASE be careful not to burn the skin as it is already sensitive.

If you feel the need to medicate the area use a drying agent such as Serious Skin Care's Liquid Belmish Lotion.

Using the spoon method with water would scald the skin (and may scar) before sterilizing any bacteria.. In some cases if the water is warm to hot (comfortable to humans) Bacterial can actually grow and multiply.
And if water is hot enough to kill bacteria, it would burn the skin.
Your better off using an (acne) ointment with a Q tip.
Use warm to cool water when cleansing the face..
If trying an ointment start off with a mild one first, then move up to a stronger ointment if needed..
Always read directions if using stuff like Murad, Dermalogica etc...
Most often the wrong dosage, leaving it on the skin too long, using water that is too hot or a serum/cleanser/mask/ointment that is too strong  can irritate the skin (different from the cycle of acne coming out and healing).
Be gentle to your skin...........

Kristine Kreations wrote:
Neosporin is a triple antibiotic, not an anti-inflammatory.  It's not what takes away redness, it just kills bacteria. 

A trick I learned from my aunt is to take an aspirin pill (the pressed powder kind, a small dose one) and dissolve it with a tiny amount (a couple drops!) of hot water in either your hand or something else clean.  This turns it into a paste, and acts like a poltice.  The redness and pain is from inflammation (swelling), and the poltice will draw out some of the excess fluid and helps tone down swelling.

+1000. Getting the uncoated aspirin will make it easier to dissolve. I get cystic acne on my chin when I'm stressed out, and this is the method I use as it quickly relieves the pain and redness.

Kristine Kreations wrote:
Neosporin is a triple antibiotic, not an anti-inflammatory.  It's not what takes away redness, it just kills bacteria. 

A trick I learned from my aunt is to take an aspirin pill (the pressed powder kind, a small dose one) and dissolve it with a tiny amount (a couple drops!) of hot water in either your hand or something else clean.  This turns it into a paste, and acts like a poltice.  The redness and pain is from inflammation (swelling), and the poltice will draw out some of the excess fluid and helps tone down swelling.

That's what I was going to suggest. You can also add a drop of honey to the paste. The honey keeps the paste from drying out an bacteria can't grow in honey.

Jilladair Carlson wrote:
1. Don't touch it with your fingers as this will make it worse.
2. Wash your hand with an anti-bacterial soap before you do touch it to treat it

Extreme heat works really well to kill bacteria so if you do not have an electric unit from a dermatologist's office then try this...

Take a spoon and place it in boiling water.
Allow it to sit for a good 30 seconds or so.
Place a clean piece of cotton fabric (ex. t-shirt meterial) across the affected area
Take the spoon and lay it onto the material so you can feel the heat of it on the blemish.
DO NOT push.
Allow the heat to penetrate the area

You can repeat these steps a few times a day.

The heat should kill some of the bacteria promoting healing of the blemish.

PLEASE be careful not to burn the skin as it is already sensitive.

If you feel the need to medicate the area use a drying agent such as Serious Skin Care's Liquid Belmish Lotion.

Thank you Dr. 
Now the truth. 
The bacteria that NORMALLY live ON our skin (FINGERS) are the SAME ones that caused the infection.  They just got below the protective layer and started trouble. 

Bacteria are killed at HIGH temperatures, like boiling. Our body temp is 98.6 degrees and when we get a fever 100  101 102 it is our body trying to fight off the infection.  But it takes much more than a few seconds of heating the body to to so.

Also should the skin be burned (you will SCALD the skin at 150 degrees, boiling is 212) it LOOSES the natural protection it affords us by keeping bacteria OUT.  Burn victims DIE of INFECTION (among other things). 

Neosporin, Bacitracin and other topical over the counter antibiotics ARE effective in killing and reducing bacterial numbers.  Use per label directions.

And YES I AM a Dr. and taught Bacteriology. 

Michael Rothman
Podiatrist

Philipe wrote:
Using the spoon method with water would scald the skin (and may scar) before sterilizing any bacteria.. In some cases if the water is warm to hot (comfortable to humans) Bacterial can actually grow and multiply.
And if water is hot enough to kill bacteria, it would burn the skin.
Your better off using an (acne) ointment with a Q tip.
Use warm to cool water when cleansing the face..
If trying an ointment start off with a mild one first, then move up to a stronger ointment if needed..
Always read directions if using stuff like Murad, Dermalogica etc...
Most often the wrong dosage, leaving it on the skin too long, using water that is too hot or a serum/cleanser/mask/ointment that is too strong  can irritate the skin (different from the cycle of acne coming out and healing).
Be gentle to your skin...........

THANK YOU!!!!

Michael Rothman wrote:
Thank you Dr. 
Now the truth. 
The bacteria that NORMALLY live ON our skin (FINGERS) are the SAME ones that caused the infection.  They just got below the protective layer and started trouble. 

Bacteria are killed at HIGH temperatures, like boiling. Our body temp is 98.6 degrees and when we get a fever 100  101 102 it is our body trying to fight off the infection.  But it takes much more than a few seconds of heating the body to to so.

Also should the skin be burned (you will SCALD the skin at 150 degrees, boiling is 212) it LOOSES the natural protection it affords us by keeping bacteria OUT.  Burn victims DIE of INFECTION (among other things). 

Neosporin, Bacitracin and other topical over the counter antibiotics ARE effective in killing and reducing bacterial numbers.  Use per label directions.

And YES I AM a Dr. and taught Bacteriology. 

Michael Rothman
Podiatrist

This

Edit: warm soaks to the  area for  15-20 minutes every 3-4hrs will increase the  blood  flow, and aid in the general  healing  process.

Michael Rothman wrote:

Thank you Dr. 
Now the truth. 
The bacteria that NORMALLY live ON our skin (FINGERS) are the SAME ones that caused the infection.  They just got below the protective layer and started trouble. 

Bacteria are killed at HIGH temperatures, like boiling. Our body temp is 98.6 degrees and when we get a fever 100  101 102 it is our body trying to fight off the infection.  But it takes much more than a few seconds of heating the body to to so.

Also should the skin be burned (you will SCALD the skin at 150 degrees, boiling is 212) it LOOSES the natural protection it affords us by keeping bacteria OUT.  Burn victims DIE of INFECTION (among other things). 

Neosporin, Bacitracin and other topical over the counter antibiotics ARE effective in killing and reducing bacterial numbers.  Use per label directions.

And YES I AM a Dr. and taught Bacteriology. 

Michael Rothman
Podiatrist

Thank you for stepping in; not everyone would.

Trippy Tara wrote:
Thanks for everyone's input!

I put some neosporin in it last night and it did relieve swelling but it is still super red At least the pain is gone...I think it might be going away

Today since I have school and don't want to walk around with neosporin on my face, I think I'll try the aspirin trick that everyone is talking about since my mom said that really helped her skin when she was a teenager.

Feel free to leave any more suggestions!

Hint:

You have a doctor responding here who knows more about what he is talking about than the others here. So, if I were you and asking for free advice I would send a personal message to you know who....get it!

By the way I would also contact your own doctor since your doctor knows your personal health and what works for you.

Dannielle Levan wrote:
I use Polysporin Heal Fast.  Zaps them incredibly quick.

+1

I use Polysporin as well and it does heal fast... I put a generous amount on my pimple and it does clear it in a couple of days and even leaves no scab...

Kristine Kreations wrote:
Neosporin is a triple antibiotic, not an anti-inflammatory.  It's not what takes away redness, it just kills bacteria. 

A trick I learned from my aunt is to take an aspirin pill (the pressed powder kind, a small dose one) and dissolve it with a tiny amount (a couple drops!) of hot water in either your hand or something else clean.  This turns it into a paste, and acts like a poltice.  The redness and pain is from inflammation (swelling), and the poltice will draw out some of the excess fluid and helps tone down swelling.

I am going to have to try this. Also I thought I would add that Visine is a trick to take redness out of pimples as it shrinks the capillaries in your skin as well, dab with a qtip.  I have used this before and it works for me.  I would not recommend putting witch hazel or any irritant on it as it may worsen it.

Jenn aka Miss Rayne wrote:
I would think that neosporin might cause it to mess with the area around it, as in clogging pores and causing more problems. I get some monsters now and then, and usually use a warm compress to relieve pain or pressure. I keep moisturizers away from the area (I have REALLY finicky sensitive skin) and use something over the counter to take care of it.

Because of the fact that it is cystic, and the possibility of infection, as well as reading what others have written so far, I hope you are able to find something that helps soothe your skin, and keep from getting infected. Best of luck in 2010! Jenn aka Miss Rayne

+1
I've had problems with trying to use neosporin and breaking out even more. Your best bet is to wash with an antibacterial soap + baking soda (cuts oil), then use diluted apple cider vinegar on your face as a toner (sounds CRAZY but I swear it fucking works) and don't wear any make-up til it clears!

Idel wrote:
Use Vapor-Rub (Vick's, for example). I'm serious.

So funny you say that, my grandma uses Vick's for EVERYTHING. She swears by it lol.


I like is Burt's Bees- Res-q ointment..
http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-produc … tment.html

Taboo Nudes wrote:

That's what I was going to suggest. You can also add a drop of honey to the paste. The honey keeps the paste from drying out an bacteria can't grow in honey.

that's what I did when my bellybutton ring got infected once and it worked in a day!

Jilladair Carlson wrote:
1. Don't touch it with your fingers as this will make it worse.
2. Wash your hand with an anti-bacterial soap before you do touch it to treat it

Extreme heat works really well to kill bacteria so if you do not have an electric unit from a dermatologist's office then try this...

Take a spoon and place it in boiling water.
Allow it to sit for a good 30 seconds or so.
Place a clean piece of cotton fabric (ex. t-shirt meterial) across the affected area
Take the spoon and lay it onto the material so you can feel the heat of it on the blemish.
DO NOT push.
Allow the heat to penetrate the area

You can repeat these steps a few times a day.

The heat should kill some of the bacteria promoting healing of the blemish.

PLEASE be careful not to burn the skin as it is already sensitive.

If you feel the need to medicate the area use a drying agent such as Serious Skin Care's Liquid Belmish Lotion.

Wow.... talk about the uninformed.  The blind leads the blind.  This is so wrong in this situation.  Perhaps, buy a text book of human physiology, microbiology, and internal medicine, and read them in your free time.

Kristine Kreations wrote:
Neosporin is a triple antibiotic, not an anti-inflammatory.  It's not what takes away redness, it just kills bacteria. 

A trick I learned from my aunt is to take an aspirin pill (the pressed powder kind, a small dose one) and dissolve it with a tiny amount (a couple drops!) of hot water in either your hand or something else clean.  This turns it into a paste, and acts like a poltice.  The redness and pain is from inflammation (swelling), and the poltice will draw out some of the excess fluid and helps tone down swelling.

exactly.. the neo will not help! try this other method mentioned, sounds interesting! i mean when you have acne, and ive had it, you will basically try anything. it is terrible and people who never have it dont understand