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Antibiotic ointment: triple vs double, how to use it, and its limits

By the Life in Good Form editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

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Triple, double or single antibiotic

Details are from each product's Drug Facts label on DailyMed. All three list the same use: first aid to help prevent infection in minor cuts, scrapes and burns. Polysporin and bacitracin ointment contain no neomycin, which matters if you know you react to it.

Versions with pain relief. Neosporin + Lidocaine adds lidocaine 40 mg per gram as an external analgesic, for temporary relief of pain in minor cuts, scrapes and burns, alongside three antibiotics. Its label adds two extra cautions: do not use in large quantities, particularly over raw surfaces or blistered areas, and ask a doctor before using it on children under 2 years of age.

How to use antibiotic ointment

• Clean first. Mayo Clinic advises washing your hands, stopping the bleeding, rinsing the wound under running water and washing around it with soap.
• Use a small amount. Labels say to apply an amount equal to the surface area of the tip of a finger.
• 1 to 3 times daily. That is the frequency on all three labels.
• Cover if needed. Labels say the area may be covered with a sterile bandage; see our adhesive bandages guide.
• Change the covering at least once a day or when wet or dirty, per Mayo Clinic.

Mayo Clinic says a thin layer of antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly keeps the wound surface moist.

When not to use it

• Allergy. Do not use if you are allergic to any ingredient.
• Eyes. Do not use in the eyes.
• Large areas. Do not use over large areas of the body.
• Serious wounds. Ask a doctor first for deep or puncture wounds, animal bites or serious burns.

These warnings appear on the Neosporin, Polysporin and bacitracin labels. Get medical care for serious burns rather than treating them at home with ointment.

The 1-week limit and side effects

The labels say to stop use and ask a doctor if you need to use the ointment longer than 1 week, if the condition persists or gets worse, or if a rash or other allergic reaction develops. Mayo Clinic notes that ingredients in some antibiotic ointments can cause a mild rash in some people, and says to stop using the ointment if you get a rash.

Keep ointment out of reach of children, and get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away if it is swallowed.

Petroleum jelly as an alternative

Mayo Clinic lists petroleum jelly alongside antibiotic ointment as a thin layer to keep the wound surface moist and help prevent scarring. If you react to antibiotic ointments or prefer to avoid them, plain petroleum jelly is the option it names. Petrolatum is also the base of all three ointments in the table above.

For wound cleaning, Mayo Clinic advises against hydrogen peroxide or iodine, which can irritate wounds; see our hydrogen peroxide guide.

Before any ointment goes on, Mayo Clinic says to remove dirt or debris with tweezers cleaned with alcohol, and to see a health care professional if you cannot remove it all; see our tweezers guide.

Signs you need a doctor

Mayo Clinic says to see a health care professional for signs of infection: expanding changes in color, increasing pain, drainage, warmth or swelling. A tetanus shot is needed if you have not had one in the past five years and the wound is deep or dirty. Single-use ointment packets are handy for a first aid kit, since each one is sealed until you need it.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

What is the difference between Neosporin and Polysporin?

Neosporin Original has three antibiotics including neomycin; Polysporin has two and no neomycin.

How often should I apply antibiotic ointment?

Labels say 1 to 3 times daily, a fingertip-sized amount.

How long can I use antibiotic ointment?

Stop and ask a doctor if you need it longer than 1 week.

Can I use petroleum jelly instead?

Mayo Clinic names petroleum jelly as an alternative to keep the wound moist.

Can I use antibiotic ointment on a deep cut?

Labels say ask a doctor first for deep or puncture wounds, animal bites or serious burns.

Sources

• Neosporin Original (bacitracin zinc, neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B sulfate) ointment label (dailymed.nlm.nih.gov), DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine
• Polysporin First Aid Antibiotic (bacitracin zinc, polymyxin B sulfate) ointment label (dailymed.nlm.nih.gov), DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine
• Neosporin Plus Lidocaine (bacitracin, neomycin, polymyxin B, lidocaine) ointment label (dailymed.nlm.nih.gov), DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine
• CareAll Bacitracin (bacitracin zinc) ointment label (dailymed.nlm.nih.gov), DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine
• Cuts and scrapes: First aid (mayoclinic.org), Mayo Clinic

Sources checked 2026-10-15.