Post-surgical wounds in dermatology may be closed with stitches or allowed to heal in from the base. Most dermatologic procedures result in wounds that are classified as ‘non-contaminated’ and have low baseline potential for infection. For wounds closed with stitches, the potential harms (allergic contact dermatitis to topical ingredients, antibiotic resistance) outweigh the marginal reduced risk of postoperative infection achieved by use of antibiotics applied to the skin. Only wounds that show symptoms of infection (purulence, swelling, spreading redness, wound breakdown and systemic symptoms) should receive appropriate antibiotic treatment. For more information:
Saco M, et al. Topical antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of surgical wound infections from dermatologic procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dermatolog Treat. 2015 Apr;26(2):151-8. PMID: 24646178.
Gehrig KA, et al. Allergic contact dermatitis to topical antibiotics: Epidemiology, responsible allergens, and management. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 Jan;58(1):1-21. PMID: 18158924.
Norman G, et al. Antibiotics and antiseptics for surgical wounds healing by secondary intention. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Mar 29;3:CD011712. PMID: 27021482.