Skin Infections

Topical Antibiotics & Antiseptics

Creams and ointments applied directly to infected skin

33 drugs
27 OTC
6 Prescription

Antiseptic throat lozenge

Kills germs in the throat and mouth

1

2,4-Dichlorobenzyl alcohol , Amylmetacresol ,Vitamin C

OTC

Sore throat, throat pain, mouth infections, minor throat irritation from cough or cold

Strepsils Orange with Vitamin C Lozenge

Antiseptic

throat and mouth

1

Amylmetacresol; 2,4-Dichlorobenzyl alcohol

OTC

Sore throat, throat pain, mouth infections, mild throat infections, discomfort caused by cough and cold

Strepsils Soothing Honey & LemonStrepsils Soothing Honey and Lemon Lozenges

Antiseptic

Kills bacteria and prevents infection

7

Benzalkonium Chloride; Chlorhexidine Gluconate

OTC

Wound cleaning, cuts and scrapes, skin disinfection before injections or minor surgery, general antiseptic use, hand washing in hospitals, cleaning minor burns

Mavlon Aniseptic Liquid

Chlorhexidine Digluconate

OTC

Mouth infections, gum disease (swollen or bleeding gums), wound cleaning, skin disinfection before surgery or injections, sore throat, umbilical cord care for newborns

Emxidine Gel

Chlorhexidine Gluconate

OTC

Wound cleaning, surgical hand scrub, skin disinfection before surgery or injections, umbilical cord care for newborns, mouth wash for gum infections and mouth sores, general skin antisepsis

Robin’s Surgical ScrubUmblicare GelUmbygene Gel

Chlorinated lime; Boric acid

OTC

Wound cleaning, wound infection, burns, skin ulcers, boils, removal of dead tissue from wounds

De-Shalom Eusol LotionEsoma Eusol SolutionEUSOL SolutionHyenang EUSOLNino Eusol Solution A & B

Dequalinium Chloride

OTC

Sore throat, mouth infections, mouth ulcers, thrush (white patches in the mouth), gum infections, tonsillitis

Dequadin Lozenges

Hydrogen peroxide

OTC

Cleaning minor wounds and cuts, mouth sores, gum infections, ear wax removal, gargling for sore throat

De-Shalom Hydrogen Peroxide SolutionFolat Hydrogen Peroxide B.PGalways Hydrogen PeroxideHydrogen Peroxide BPHyenang Hydrogen Peroxide SolutionMGZ Magzo Hydrogen PeroxideNabicon Hydrogen PeroxideRobins Hydrogen Peroxide

Povidone-iodine

OTC

Wound cleaning, prevention of wound infection, sore throat and mouth infections, skin infections, surgical site preparation, minor cuts and burns, vaginal infections

Aritadine Ointment USP 5% w/wBetadine Germicide GargleBetadine Standardized Microbicidal Solution 10% w/vBetadine Surgical ScrubFovidye 2g SolutionKF Antifect Solution 1000mLWosan 2.5% SolutionWosan Mouth Wash

Combination Anti-infective and Anti-inflammatory

Steroid, Antifungal, Antibiotic, Antiseptic

1

Betamethasone; Tolnaftate; Neomycin sulfate; Clioquinol

Prescription

Skin infections with itching and redness, ringworm, eczema with infection, fungal skin infections, rashes caused by mixed bacteria and fungi, jock itch, skin irritation with swelling

Tridermix-G Cream

Antiseptic/Disinfectant

Kills bacteria and prevents infections

2

Castor oil; Isopropyl alcohol; Pine oil; Chloroxylenol

OTC

Skin antiseptic for cuts and wounds, general body hygiene, disinfecting surfaces, preventing skin infections, bathing to keep the body clean and germ-free

Germol Antiseptic Liquid

Castor oil; Pine oil; Dichloroxylenol

OTC

Cleaning wounds and cuts, preventing wound infection, skin disinfection, general antiseptic use, cleaning surfaces in the home

Biotol Antiseptic

Antiseptic / Disinfectant

Kills bacteria and prevents infections

3

Chlorhexidine Gluconate; Cetrimide

OTC

Cleaning wounds and cuts, preventing wound infections, cleaning skin before surgery or injections, general antiseptic use for the body, first aid treatment for minor burns and scrapes

Sanital Plus Liquid AntisepticSavlon Antiseptic LiquidSkinserv Antiseptic LiquidSmartans Antiseptic

Ethanol; Ricinus Communis Seed Oil; Sodium Hydroxide

OTC

Cleaning and disinfecting wounds, hand hygiene, household surface disinfection, preventing skin infections, general antiseptic use

Cussons Carex Lime Fresh Antiseptic DisinfectantRoberts Antiseptic Lime FreshRoberts Antiseptic Original

Ethanol; Wood Naptha

OTC

Cleaning wounds and skin before injections, disinfecting surfaces and medical equipment, relieving muscle aches when rubbed on the skin, drying out skin rashes and sores, cooling the body during high fever (when dabbed on the skin)

Esoma Methylated SpiritHyenang Methylated Spirit BPKlassic Methylated SpiritNino 70% Ethyl Rubbing AlcoholSkinserv Methylated Spirit

Antiseptic and Disinfectant

Kills germs and prevents infection

1

Chloroxylenol

OTC

Cleaning and disinfecting minor cuts, wounds, and scratches, preventing skin infections, general body hygiene, household disinfection, treating minor skin infections

Corysan Antiseptic DisinfectantDr Woodworth Citrus SplashGermol Antiseptic LiquidTetmosol Protect Plus Antiseptic Disinfectant

Oral analgesic and antiseptic

mouth painkiller and germ killer

1

Choline Salicylate; Cetalkonium Chloride

OTC

Mouth ulcers, sore gums, teething pain, mouth sores (boil inside mouth), gum inflammation, denture sore spots, cold sores on the lips

Drujela Mouth Gel

Antifungal and antiseptic skin cream

Fights fungal and bacterial skin infections

1

Clotrimazole; Menthol, Ichthammol , Boric Acid, Zinc Oxide

OTC

Skin fungal infections (ringworm, athlete's foot), eczema, rashes, itchy skin, minor skin irritations, pimples and boils

Peuraderm Cream

Antiseptic and Antifungal dye

Kills germs and fungal infections on skin

2

Crystal Violet

OTC

Mouth thrush (oral candidiasis), skin fungal infections, ringworm, minor wound infections, nipple thrush in breastfeeding mothers, skin sores

Nino Gentian Violet PaintUgolab Gentian Violet Solution

Methylrosanilinium Chloride

OTC

Mouth thrush (oral candidiasis), skin fungal infections, minor wound infections, ringworm, nappy rash caused by yeast, boils, and minor cuts or scrapes that may be infected

Esoma Gentian VioletNabicon Gentian Violet

Antiseptic / Anti-infective

Kills bacteria and prevents infections

1

Dilute acetic acid

OTC

Ear infections (especially outer ear infection/swimmer's ear), cleaning wounds, removing warts

Baby Greenlin Cough Linctus

Topical Antiseptic / Disinfectant

Kills germs on the skin surface

1

Isopropyl Alcohol

OTC

Cleaning skin before injections, disinfecting minor cuts and wounds, cleaning medical instruments, rubbing alcohol for muscle aches, sanitizing hands

Hyenang Surgical SpiritM & B Isopropyl Alcohol

Antibiotic and Antiseptic combination

Kills bacteria and prevents infection on skin

1

Metronidazole; Povidone-iodine

OTC

Infected wounds, skin ulcers, burns with infection, surgical wound infections, boils and abscesses on the skin

Drez PowderWosangyl Ointment

Antibiotic

Kills bacteria on the skin surface

1

Mupirocin

Prescription

Skin infections caused by bacteria, infected wounds, boils, impetigo (school sores), infected eczema, small cuts or burns that have become infected

Bactrox 20mg OintmentBerlin Mupirocin 2% w/w CreamBotigo OintmentDermocin Ointment 2.0% w/wMacroban CreamMupiderm OintmentMupirocin OintmentMupirocin Ointment USP 2.0% w/w

Antibiotic

topical combination

2

Neomycin; Bacitracin Zinc; Polymyxin B Sulfate

OTC

Minor skin infections, cuts and wounds that may be infected, burns, skin sores, boils, rashes with infection

Neobacin Plus OintmentTriderlin Ointment

Neomycin; Bacitracin zinc

OTC

Minor cuts, small burns, skin wounds, prevention of wound infection, minor skin infections

Bacitracin & Neomycin Powder Aerosol SprayNeobacin PowderNeomycin Sulphate + Zinc Bacitracin PowderNorbatrin Powder 10gNeomycin Sulphate + Zinc Bacitracin Powder## (duplicate, different stren

Antiviral/Cytotoxic

wart remover

1

Podophyllotoxin

Prescription

Genital warts (warts around the private parts), external condylomata (soft warts caused by a virus)

Podophyllin CreamPodophyllin Cream 0.15% w/wPodophyllin Cream 20g

Topical antiseptic and keratolytic

skin treatment

1

Precipitated Sulfur; Mineral Oil; White Ointment

OTC

Skin rashes, scabies (body itching caused by tiny mites), ringworm, acne (pimples), eczema, dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis (flaky oily skin patches)

Sulfacan CreamSulphorec Ointment

Topical antibiotic

sulfonamide with silver

1

Silver sulfadiazine

Prescription

Burns (first, second, and third degree), wound infections from burns, prevention of infection in burn wounds, leg ulcers, skin grafts

Afterburn CreamDermazin CreamDrumazine Cream

Topical antibiotic and antiseptic combination

Kills bacteria and prevents infection on skin

1

Silver Sulfadiazine; Chlorhexidine

Prescription

Burns, wound infections, leg ulcers, skin grafts, pressure sores (bedsores), minor cuts and scrapes that need protection from infection

Dermaflame Cream 30gDrumazine-Plus Cream

Antibiotic

Kills bacteria that cause infections

1

Sodium fusidate

Prescription

Skin infections, boils, wound infections, infected eczema, impetigo (skin sores), infected cuts and burns, eye infections (when used as eye drops)

Fusibact Cream 2% w/wFusibact Ointment

Antiseptic/Antiparasitic

skin treatment

1

Sulfur

OTC

Skin rashes, scabies (body itching caused by tiny mites), ringworm, acne (pimples), dandruff, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis (flaky itchy skin)

Aphasulf OintmentAquasulf OintmentHysulf OintmentKrishat Sulfur OintmentSulphur Skin Ointment

Antiseptic mouthwash

Kills germs in the mouth and throat

1

Thymol; Alcohol

OTC

Bad breath (mouth odour), gum disease (gingivitis), plaque buildup on teeth, mouth infections, sore throat gargle, general oral hygiene

Listerine Coolmint MouthwashListerine Tartar Control Mouthwash

When to see a doctor

Seek care if you notice any of the following

  • Your skin becomes swollen, red, and painful, and the swelling spreads beyond the infected area.
  • You experience a severe burning or stinging sensation after applying the topical antibiotic or antiseptic.
  • You notice pus or discharge oozing from the infected area, or the discharge is thick and yellow or green in color.
  • You develop a fever above 38°C (100.4°F) or chills, which could be a sign of an infection spreading.
  • You see signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, itching, or difficulty breathing, after applying the topical antibiotic or antiseptic.

For guidance only — always consult a qualified healthcare provider.

Related conditions

Bacterial Skin Infections

Antibiotics for cellulitis, impetigo, boils, and infected wounds

Fungal Skin Infections

Antifungals for ringworm, athlete's foot, and skin candida