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.