What is Silvadene cream used for?
Silver sulfadiazine cream is used to prevent and treat wound infections in patients with second- and third-degree burns. Patients with severe burns or burns over a large area of the body must be treated in a hospital. Silver sulfadiazine is an antibiotic. It works by killing the bacteria or preventing its growth.
Do I need a prescription for Silvadene cream?
If you do need a topical antibiotic, silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene) is great but requires a prescription. It is cheap and comes in a jar, so keep this handy in your medicine chest.
Is Silvadene available over-the-counter?
Silver Sulfadiazine is an antibiotic cream or hydrogel wound dressing that protects second and third-degree burns and skin wounds from bacterial infections. Silver Sulfadiazine is available in both prescription (Silvadene) and over-the-counter (Hydrogel AG) wound-care products.
Can Silvadene be used on open wounds?
The cream can be used with or without wound dressings. The patient should continue to use the cream until the burn area has healed to an adequate level or until the wound is ready for skin grafting.
When should Silvadene be used?
Silvadene is applied to unhealed burn wounds to protect the burn from becoming infected. It also provides a moist environment while the burn heals. The doctor will write a prescription for Silvadene cream either in the hospital or in the burn clinic. The prescription can be filled in any drug store.
Is petroleum jelly good for burns?
You may put a thin layer of ointment, such as petroleum jelly or aloe vera, on the burn. The ointment does not need to have antibiotics in it. Some antibiotic ointments can cause an allergic reaction. Do not use cream, lotion, oil, cortisone, butter, or egg white.
Does silver sulfadiazine help heal wounds?
For burns, silver sulfadiazine slows healing and should not be used. Instead, nanocrystalline silver, or alternatives such as octenidine and polyhexanide, lead to less infection and faster healing.
What does silver do for a wound?
In other words, Dr. Ovington explains that silver impregnated products, which provide a sustained release of positively charged silver ions at the wound surface, can promote wound healing and decrease infection by killing bacteria.
