What medication should be used for skin wounds and inflammation?

Skin injuries and inflammation are typically managed under a physician’s guidance using antiseptic or topical antibacterial agents such as povidone-iodine, mupirocin ointment, or erythromycin ointment. Specific recommendations are as follows:

1. Povidone-iodine: Wound cleansing with an appropriate concentration of povidone-iodine helps prevent infection and supports skin health, thereby reducing the risk of inflammatory complications. Povidone-iodine is an antiseptic solution composed of iodine complexed with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), forming a stable, water-soluble complex. It exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against most bacteria, fungi, and some viruses.

2. Mupirocin: For localized inflammatory symptoms at the wound site, topical mupirocin ointment may be prescribed per medical advice to improve clinical outcomes. Prior to application, the affected skin should be thoroughly cleansed. Mupirocin ointment helps alleviate local symptoms such as swelling and pruritus resulting from minor trauma. As a broad-spectrum topical antibacterial agent, mupirocin is particularly effective against Staphylococcus aureus and other Gram-positive bacteria.

3. Erythromycin ointment: Topical erythromycin ointment may also be used to relieve redness, inflammation, and secondary infection associated with wounds. In addition, oral antibiotics—such as clindamycin or amoxicillin capsules—may be prescribed to further control symptoms. Erythromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, exerts its antibacterial effect by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis, thereby suppressing bacterial growth.

While using the above medications, patients should supplement their diet with multiple vitamins, trace elements, and high-quality proteins to support recovery from skin injury and inflammation.