Difference between Neosporin and Vaseline
Open wounds are nothing to mess with, and even minor ones need immediate attention if you are to prevent infection and further trouble. Neosporin and–interestingly enough–Vaseline are often used as first aid treatments for minor cuts and wounds, and it is these two that we compare in this article.
Profile
Neosporin is an antibiotic ointment manufactured by Pfizer, which is used primarily to prevent infection and to hasten the healing of wounds. Neosporin contains three antibiotics in a petroleum jelly mixture, namely: bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B. Other products with similar ingredients are Mycitracin and Topisporin.
Vaseline is the brand name of a line of petroleum jelly products manufactured by Unilever. The product line includes plain petroleum jelly as well as skin creams, lotions, cleansers, deodorants and other personal care products.
Facts
Neosporin is marketed as a "triple antibiotic ointment". In addition to the aforementioned Mycitracin and Topisporin, the same product is also sold as "Complex Polymyxin B Ointment" in China, where it is marketed by Zhejiang Reachall Pharmaceutical. There is also a product called Neosporin Plus Pain Relief, which has anesthetic pramoxine hydrochloride in addition to the other active ingredients.
The term “Vaseline” was first used by Robert Chesebrough, who was the inventor of petroleum jelly. It was in 1859 that Chesebrough extracted petroleum jelly from an oilrig residue called "rod wax", which workers previously used for healing cuts and burns. Chesebrough got a patent for his invention in 1872.
Uses
Neosporin is an antibacterial ointment that is commonly used to prevent the infection of open wounds. The ointment is also used to prevent the growth of bacteria at the site of infection. Some people may be allergic to Neosporin however, in which case they may be given polysporin instead. Some of these products may be marketed as "double antibiotic ointment", and these typically contain bacitracin and polysporin or some other type of polymyxin B.
Vaseline was first sold as a burn, cuts, and scrapes remedy, although it has since been shown to have no appreciable effect on blisters, nor is it absorbed into the skin. That being said, Vaseline does have some benefits with regard to speeding up the wound healing process, since it provides a sealing action that prevents bacteria from entering the wound. This action also keeps the surrounding area soft by sealing in moisture.
Similarities and Differences
Neosporin
- An antibiotic ointment manufactured by Pfizer, which is used primarily to prevent infection and to hasten the healing of wounds
- Contains three antibiotics in a petroleum jelly mixture, namely: bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B
- Also sold as "Complex Polymyxin B Ointment" in China
Vaseline
- A line of petroleum jelly products manufactured by Unilever
- Invented by Robert Chesebrough in 1859
- Extracted from an oil rig residue called "rod wax"
- No appreciable effect on blisters
- Not readily absorbed into the skin
- Provides a sealing action that prevents bacteria from entering the wound
