Can I Use Silverdene if I Am Allergic to Sulpha? (photo)

Question

I am 5 weeks post op from a breast lift and aug and am having difficulty healing several wounds from the incisions of an anchor lift...primarily at the base but also along the center line and at the base of the nipple....my PS said to be patient He sent me home with betadine and gauze to change the wounds 2x daily...they are partially white and oozy and sometimes bleed. I don't feel like they are getting any better. Is there any ointment I can use to help close the wounds and speed up recovery?

Ryan Neinstein, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Simple answer, if you have a real allergy than you should deffinately not use the cream as you could have a severe life threatning reaction

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

If you are allergic to an antibiotic ointment it is not necessary to use it for wound care. Keeping wound clean and protected is the best you can do.

Sacha Obaid, MD · Answer

In your case, bacitracin would be a better option to help with the small open wounds that you are seeing after your breast augmentation and lift.  Good luck.

Garrett A. Wirth, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

I do not recommend utilization of Silvadene with your sulfa allergy.  Antibiotic ointments and proper dressings/wound care should help this heal over time.

David Bogue, MD · Answer

If you have a sulfa allergy, do not use silvadene. Silvadene has sulfa in it and can worsen a situation due to the allergic reponse. Keep close communication with your surgeon while you heal and be sure to follow up.

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

You should not use silvadene if you have a sulfa allergy. If you are not making adequate progress, discuss options with your surgeon. 

	Best wishes.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

If you have a sulfa allergy then you can not use silvadene cream.. There are many different treatments for open wounds but it is customized to the goals to get the wound to heal efficiently.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Silvadene (Silver Sulfadiazine) has sulfa in it! So if allergic to sulfa than you CAN NOT apply this cream!!!

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

Unfortunately only time will heal your open wounds. Meticulous wound care is needed. Personally I do not like betadine on open wounds as it decreases epithelization. A petroleum based antibiotic ointment like bacitracin may be the best choice considering your allergy to sulfa.

Katherine Feliz Camilo, MD · Answer

I wouldn't recommend you use the silverdene due to your sulpha allergy . Ointment based antibiotics work very good in this cases . Usually cleaning the wounds with water , drying with gauze and applying a coat of bacitracin / neomicin ointment and covering with sterile gauze ( to keep your clothes clean ), once a day , should give you good results and complete healing in a couple of weeks . Adding a multivitamin supplement to your diet could also help with the healing process. Best wishes

Can I Use Silverdene if I Am Allergic to Sulpha? (photo)

Answers (14)