Treat. Apply a small amount of your choice of NEOSPORIN® antibiotic product on the area. Protect. Cover the treated area with a sterile bandage such as a BAND-AID® product Open link in new window.

Clean and dry the affected skin area. If you are using the ointment, wash your hands first. Then apply a small amount of medication (no more than can fit on your finger tip) in a thin layer on the skin and rub in gently, usually 1 to 3 times a day. Wash your hands after applying the ointment.

A: Airing out most wounds isn't beneficial because wounds need moisture to heal. Leaving a wound uncovered may dry out new surface cells, which can increase pain or slow the healing process. Most wound treatments or coverings promote a moist - but not overly wet - wound surface.

Air dries out the wound and promotes cell death, not healing. Covering the wound maintains the natural moisture that helps keep cells alive. An exposed cut will pick up dirt and debris from the air. A wound that heals in a moist environment is less likely to leave a scar.

However, proper wound care can do the same thing without the need for a topical antibiotic, which comes with side effects and risks. Neosporin is generally safe but is not always necessary. It's also not appropriate to use on large areas of injury or deep cuts or burns.

Once your cut or wound has been cleaned, the next step is to apply antibiotic ointment, such as NEOSPORIN® First Aid Antibiotic Ointment. Apply a thin layer to your wound to kill bacteria and stop infection before it starts.

Change wound dressings often – how long you keep a wound covered depends on the injury, but five days is a good start. “There's a misconception that wounds need to be left open to air out, but it's best to keep wounds covered,” Alyssa said.

Particularly, the moist wound environment has shown to provide the best conditions for faster and better wound healing by promoting tissue regeneration and mitigating infection, scarring, and pain.

Neosporin ointment can help treat minor cuts, abrasions, and burns, and may help speed healing and ease the pain. However, proper wound care can do the same thing without the need for a topical antibiotic, which comes with side effects and risks. Neosporin is generally safe but is not always necessary.

Wounds with high chances of infection should be kept open for greater than 24 hours or should not be stitched for adequate cleaning and antibiotic treatment to prevent the risk of infection. Abrasion that occurs when the skin rubs or scratches against a hard surface should be scrubbed and cleaned to avoid infection.

"It is a common source of allergic contact dermatitis," which can cause itchy, pink splotches or a rash, Dr. Hirsch says, adding that it was named the 2010 Allergen of the Year by the American Contact Dermatitis Society.

It's the neomycin! Neomycin frequently causes allergic reactions of the skin called contact dermatitis. It can cause the skin to become red, scaly, and itchy. The more Neosporin you use, the worse the skin reaction gets.