Silver sulfadiazine is an antibiotic. It fights bacteria and yeast on the skin. Silver sulfadiazine topical (for the skin) is used to
treat or prevent serious infection on areas of skin with second- or third-degree burns
. Silver sulfadiazine topical may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Does silver sulfadiazine help heal wounds?
For burns, silver
sulfadiazine slows healing and should not be used
. Instead, nanocrystalline silver, or alternatives such as octenidine and polyhexanide, lead to less infection and faster healing.
Can you put Silvadene on an open wound?
The
cream can be used with or without wound dressings
. The patient should continue to use the cream until the burn area has healed to an adequate level or until the wound is ready for skin grafting.
Can silver sulfadiazine cream be used on open wounds?
Silver sulfadiazine
works by stopping the growth of bacteria that may infect an open wound
. This helps to decrease the risk of the bacteria spreading to surrounding skin, or to the blood where it can cause a serious blood infection (sepsis).
What are the side effects of silver sulfadiazine cream?
- Back, leg, or stomach pains.
- blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin.
- blue-green to black skin discoloration.
- fever with or without chills.
- general body swelling.
- increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight, especially in patients with burns on large areas.
- intense itching of burn wounds.
Can you use too much silver sulfadiazine cream?
Your burn wounds should be kept covered with silver sulfadiazine cream at all times.
An overdose of silver sulfadiazine topical is not expected to be dangerous
. Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if anyone has accidentally swallowed the medication. Do not take by mouth.
When should Silvadene be used?
Silvadene is
applied to unhealed burn wounds to protect the burn from becoming infected
. It also provides a moist environment while the burn heals. The doctor will write a prescription for Silvadene cream either in the hospital or in the burn clinic. The prescription can be filled in any drug store.
Does silver help healing?
Several studies have revealed that colloidal silver is also a great antiseptic that
works to heal cuts, abrasions, and wounds
. It helps the skin develop its healthiest form without destroying tissue cells. Colloidal silver has wonderful healing properties and helps damaged tissue to regenerate.
How do you apply Silvadene to a wound?
Apply a thin layer (about 1/16 inch) of
silver sulfadiazine to the affected areas. Keep the affected areas covered with the medicine at all times. If this medicine is rubbed off the affected areas by moving around or if it is washed off during bathing, showering, or the use of a whirlpool bath, reapply the medicine.
When should you not use silver dressing?
If the signs and symptoms of wound infection are no longer present
, the silver dressing should be discontinued (International Consensus Group, 2012). If there is no improvement, the silver dressing should be discontinued and the treatment regimen reassessed (International Consensus Group, 2012).
Does silver sulfadiazine cream go bad?
Once opened, the
tube of cream has an expiry date of seven days
to reduce the risk of infection. Larger pots of cream must be used within 24 hours. Do not use it after this time.
Do you need a prescription for Silvadene cream?
If you do need a topical antibiotic, silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene) is great but
requires a prescription
. It is cheap and comes in a jar, so keep this handy in your medicine chest.
Why does Silvadene cream turn black?
Silver sulfadiazene cream (Silvadene®) does indeed turn black
as the silver ion oxidizes
. However, the black pigments are not incorporated into the healing skin. Permanent skin discoloration is not from using silver sulfadizene on burn wounds. As healing skin matures, melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment return.
Is silver sulfadiazine an antibiotic?
Silver sulfadiazine is
an antibiotic
. It fights bacteria and yeast on the skin. Silver sulfadiazine topical (for the skin) is used to treat or prevent serious infection on areas of skin with second- or third-degree burns.
Can you get Silvadene cream over the counter?
Silver Sulfadiazine is an antibiotic cream or hydrogel wound dressing that protects second and third-degree burns and skin wounds from bacterial infections. Silver Sulfadiazine is available in both prescription (Silvadene) and
over-the-counter
(Hydrogel AG) wound-care products.
Does Silvadene heal burns faster?
A recent systematic review
7
includes 9 clinical trials comparing the use of honey and silver sulfadiazine in superficial burns. This
study finds faster complete healing
and a higher percentage of infection resolution in honey-treated wounds.
