Polysporin

Polysporin.

About this product

An over-the-counter topical antibiotic ointment containing bacitracin and polymyxin B, designed to prevent infection in minor cuts, scrapes, and wounds.

Guru Score

61%

Mixed

4 experts · Moderate agreement

4Gurus

1Yay

1Mixed

2Nay

What they liked

No neomycin, lower allergy risk than Neosporin
Recommended for immunocompromised patients

What they flagged

Bacitracin carries allergy and anaphylaxis risk
Vaseline works as well at lower cost

What the gurus are saying

One expert recommends Polysporin specifically for immunocompromised patients (those on steroids, with diabetes, on chemotherapy, or with high-risk lower leg wounds) because it skips neomycin, an ingredient tied to contact allergies. However, another dermatologist advises against all triple antibiotic ointments including Polysporin, citing bacitracin allergies and the risk of serious blistering contact dermatitis. A third expert sees it as reasonable for minor home care. The split hinges on individual allergy risk and whether simpler wound care might be safer.

Synthesized from 4 expert reviews · most recent take February 2026

Type

Balm & ointment

Where to buy

Amazon → Google → iHerb →

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dr. Sam Ellis

882k subs

~Yay

"For patients who are immunocompromised, for example those on steroids or with diabetes or on chemotherapy or with a wound on their lower extremity at high risk of infection, we will recommend Polysporin because it doesn't contain neomycin. You can buy Polysporin over the counter at your drugstore or Target."

Dr. Daniel Sugai

720k subs

~Nay

"Do not use Neosporin, guys. Also, avoid basitracin, triple antibiotic, polysporin. All of those have to be removed from the shelf. Like we said, keep it simple. Don't put any of these in your first aid kits. And if you were to ask me what's the worst ingredient in these, it would have to be neomycin over bacitracin. But if I were to rank the worst, neomycin is the worst, most allergenic over bacitracin. But I do see a lot of bacitracin allergies. And these contact dermatitis rashes can be quite serious and very blistering."

208SkinDoc

2.09M subs

~Nay

"Polysporin is similar to Neosporin, it just doesn't contain the neomycin. But even there, there's some risk of allergy, and you just don't need to spend the extra money when just plain Vaseline actually is superior in most cases of wound healing."

All 2 takes from 208SkinDoc

Dermatologist's Reaction to Viral TikToks | Dr Dustin Portela

"In this case I might recommend Polysporin if you're just going to do this at home."

How to Heal Cuts and Scrapes Fast! Dermatologist Recommends

Doctorly

3.58M subs

~Mixed

"If you want to use an antibiotic for a wound like a scrape on gravel, we prefer Polysporin to neomycin because Polysporin removes that neomycin component and it's just bacitracin and polymyxin. However, bacitracin is high risk of allergy, not as high risk as neomycin, but it also carries this additional risk of more of an anaphylactic reaction where you get swelling and hives and your throat closes up, though the percentage of people that happens to is way, way, way lower than the amount of people that get that poison ivy type rash from neomycin."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Frequently asked.

What is Polysporin?

An over-the-counter topical antibiotic ointment containing bacitracin and polymyxin B, designed to prevent infection in minor cuts, scrapes, and wounds.

Is Polysporin worth it?

The gurus are split. 1 of the 4 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 2 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 61%.

What is Polysporin's Guru Score?

Polysporin holds a Guru Score of 61%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 4 expert reviewers we have collected.

Polysporin.

61%

What the gurus are saying.

What the evidence says.

Frequently asked.

What is Polysporin?

Is Polysporin worth it?

What is Polysporin's Guru Score?

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