Go to AAD Home
Donate For Public and Patients Store Search
Go to AAD Home
Main menu
Membership
Meetings & Education
Practice management
Clinical & quality
Publications & apps
Career development
Advocacy
Back
Account
Pay dues
Member ID
Join the AAD
Member benefits
Find a member
AAD election
AAD governance
Support AAD
AAD Help Center
2025 Annual Meeting
2025 Innovation Academy
Academy meetings archive
Professional education
Claim CME & view transcript
Upcoming events
Residents & medical students
Patient education materials
DataDerm
Coding Resource Center
MIPS & fee schedule
Teledermatology
EHR & health tech
Insurance & drugs
Compliance & practice scope
Managing your practice
Clinical guidelines
Quality measures
DataDerm
Quality & patient safety
Clinical Community
Clinical care resources
Position statements
JAAD
JAAD International
JAAD Case Reports
Dermatology World
DermWorld Insights & Inquiries
Derm Coding Consult
DermWorld Meeting News
Impact Report
Other publications
Academy Apps
Job board
Join or sell a practice
Burnout & wellness
Career launch
Diversity
Awards, grants, and scholarships
Leadership Institute
Volunteer opportunities
Ethics & professionalism
Take action
Advocacy priorities
State advocacy resources
Legislative Conference
Position statements
Promote the specialty
Key Contacts
Patient advocate resources
SkinPAC
Advocacy Update
Welcome!

When to Use (or Not Use) Antibiotics on Your Skin

Tips from board-certified dermatologists

ROSEMONT, Ill. (Feb. 15, 2022) — Cold weather can be hard on your skin. When your skin becomes dry, as often happens in the winter, it can easily crack and bleed. When caring for a cut or other wound, it might seem logical to apply an antibiotic cream or ointment from the store to fight off germs and prevent infection. However, these antibiotic creams and ointments can irritate your skin even more and cause a painful and/or itchy rash, called contact dermatitis.

“In addition to causing irritation and a rash, the widespread use of antibiotics — including in instances when they aren’t needed — has contributed to a major public health challenge known as antibiotic resistance,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marcelyn Coley, MD, FAAD. “Antibiotic resistance occurs when germs, such as bacteria, develop the ability to survive the drugs designed to kill them. That means the germs continue to grow. This makes infections caused by antibiotic-resistant germs difficult — and sometimes impossible — to treat.”

Most minor cuts and wounds and even surgical wounds do not require antibiotics. The only time antibiotics are typically needed is in the case of an infection. Signs that a wound may be infected include pus; yellow or golden crusts; pain; red, purple or brown skin; swelling or warmth; red (in light skin) or brownish red (in dark skin) streaks; feeling very hot or cold; or having a fever.

If your wound is not showing any signs of an infection, Dr. Coley recommends skipping the antibiotics and doing the following instead:

  • Keep your skin injury clean. Wash your hands before touching your wound, and gently wash the wound daily with mild soap and water to keep out germs. As long as the wound is cleaned daily, it is not necessary to use an antibiotic ointment.

  • Apply plain petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist. To prevent spreading dirt and bacteria, choose petroleum jelly that comes in a tube instead of a jar.

  • Keep your wound covered with an adhesive bandage. For large scrapes, sores, burns or persistent redness, it may be helpful to use hydrogel or silicone gel sheets instead.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than half of all antibiotics used in the U.S. are not needed,” says Dr. Coley. “If you injure your skin and have questions about how to treat it, talk to a board-certified dermatologist.”

These tips are demonstrated in “When to Use (or Not Use) Antibiotics on Your Skin,” a video posted to the AAD website and YouTube channel. This video is part of the AAD’s “Video of the Month” series, which offers tips people can use to properly care for their skin, hair and nails.

To find a board-certified dermatologist in your area, visit aad.org/findaderm.

More Information

Dry Skin Relief

Dry Skin Relief for those with Diabetes

Proper Wound Care: How to Minimize a Scar

How to Treat Minor Cuts

How to Treat a First-degree, Minor Burn

About the AAD

Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 20,000 physicians worldwide, the AAD is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the AAD at (888) 462-DERM (3376) or aad.org. Follow the AAD on Facebook (American Academy of Dermatology), Twitter (@AADskin), Instagram (@AADskin1), or YouTube (AcademyofDermatology).

Editor’s note: The AAD does not promote or endorse any products or services. This content is intended as editorial content and should not be embedded with any paid, sponsored or advertorial content as it could be perceived as an AAD endorsement.