How many of us have a tube of Neosporin in our
medicine cabinet? It’s always the go to
antibiotic ointment for our cuts and scrapes?
What harm could it do right? The
next time you reach for your tube of Neosporin, you may want to think again.
The American Contact Dermatitis Society has named the antibiotic neomycin, the
main ingredient in Neosporin, as Allergen of the Year for 2010.
What would an allergy to neomycin look like? The
skin around the area being applied will become red itchy and form a bumpy rash
similar to eczema. The type of allergy reaction that occurs is called a type
IV, cell-mediated, delayed reaction because it takes a few days to occur. What
should you do if you suspect you might be having an allergic reaction? First, you should stop using the ointment
right away and then consult your medical provider. Neomycin is a member of the
aminoglycoside family, which also includes gentamicin, kanamycin, and
tobramycin. If you have an allergy to
neomycin, you should be careful using other medications that are in the same
family. Polysporin is a great
alternative for patients sensitive to neomycin and can be found in the first
aid section in most stores.
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