Why Use Vaseline After Mohs Surgery? Does It Keep the Wound "Soft" and Healing Better?

Hey Laura, 



This is an old thread, but I have a couple things to add.. 

Through medical studies we've learned that moist things heal faster. Ointment (of any kind keeps the tissue underneath moist)

- we've learned that topical ointments with antibiotics in them don't prevent infections any better than vaseline does. It's more expensive, risks dermatitis reaction or allergic reaction

- In my practice I think of scabs (the dried blood around stitches) as a concrete scaffolding that prevents the ingrowth and cross linking of dermal fingers that is the healing process. So scabs actually prevent healing! They also result in unsightly scars. 

- silicon sheeting has been the only thing to improve scarring- this is because it keeps things underneath it moist- that's all it does!

Hope this helps!

Dr. Robb

Great question.  Moist wound healing is the best for your surgical wounds. Vaseline is one cheap and simple product that provides this moist wound environment.  I hope this helps answer your question!

Moist healing is faster than dry healing with a scab.  Neosporin can be allergenic and during healing patients can react to it if they develop an allergy which occurs in about 10% of patients.Bacitracin or Polysporin are less allergenic.Vasaline avoids the allergy risk so your doctor is recommending it to keep the wound mosit.

I dont think the ointment has any inherent intrinsic value by itself. It serves to keep the area moist and optimizes the healing process. It also allows the sutures to be removed without trauma after the surgery.

All wounds heal better if kept moist and will heal faster and with less scar if kept moist, rather than let a scab form.   Any wound will finally heal, but creating a more optimal environment does make a difference.  We used to tell people to keep the antibiotic ointments on for weeks and weeks but are now finding that lengthy exposure to those ointments tended to result in contact dermatitis to one of the antibiotic ingredients in the ointments.  Simple occlusive ointments such as Vaseline or Aquaphor are the best.  That is all we hand out in this office after a biopsy or any procedure.  

It's an old wives' tale that you let the air get to a wound and let it scab up to help it heal faster. The truth is that if you keep the wound clean, moist and covered (covered to stay moist) it will heal quicker. A healing wound produces various products in the moist wound bed that help to stimulate wound healing and speed the recovery process. If the wound dries out, those products dry up as well and the wound takes longer to ultimately heal. Check with your doctor, but most dermatologists would recommend: 1. clean the wound with mild soap and water (some areas you might use hydrogen peroxide); 2. liberally apply a bland ointment like Vaseline or Aquaphor or an antibiotic ointment (careful, some people are allergic to neomycin), and 3. apply a non-stick (e.g. Telfa) bandage that is held in place with paper tape. See your doctor for any increasing redness, pus, blisters, increasing pain, fevers, chills sweats or if the wound is not healing. Good luck.

The idea is to keep the area moist. I recommend Vaseline or preferably Polysporin (not Neosporin) after any removal or surgery. You need to keep the area clean with 1/2 peroxide and water, and keep any scabs or crusty areas off the site. The reason is that even though we were taught as youngsters that scabs are healing, actually scabs equate to scars. So keeping the area clean and moist allows new pink skin to form, and keeps scars to a minimum.