I covered an infected ingrown hair on my thigh with neosporin and a bandaid for a few days, to help it heal and to keep it from getting chafed by my trousers. It's been a few weeks now. The hair is long resolved. The skin where the bandaid had been however is darker. Like I've got the imprint/ shadow of a bandaids where it had been. The bandaid itself did not cause itching or irritation. No itching or irritation now.
Ideas on what this could be? Ideas on how to help it resolve? I'm loathe to go to a dermatologist for this as there is no pain, itching or discomfort.
My skin is olive. I am not tan, pg or breast feeding.
Thanks in advance
F. B.
Hasn't happened to me but I just typed in Skin Discoloration Neosporin and the web MD site came up with brown blotch and skin discolation as a possible (somewhat rare) side effect
Link is safe:
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-161224/neosporin-anti-i...
I cannot use plastic band aids or they will cause skin discoloration which does not go away. I use fabric band aids and only leave them on for short bursts to minimize skin contact with the adhesives. I have several discolored spots which have not diminished much with time. Since they are faint and cosmetic in nature, I ignore them.
I think it will go away after a time. Could be weeks or months, but it won't be there forever.
I have had ingrown hairs that became cysts, like a boil. I put neosporin and a bandaid, like you, but then I have darkness remaining on my skin after the boil pops and drains. My dermatologist said it is from scarring, had nothing to do with the bandaid, and that the area where the boil was will pretty much always remain dark. I am not sure if this is what you may be experiencing, but thought I might throw it out there.
It may have been a reaction from the sticky side of the bandaid on your skin? I have no idea.. if it itches that would have made more sense, but I've got nothing.. except I would try coconut oil, as it usually my go to with all things skin related.
If it fades, just let it be, but if it continues to bother you.. you know the drill..
I would try rubbing some vitamin E into it.
Sometimes people will use lemon juice to lighten freckles - it can take a long time - but be careful because it can dry out your skin.
Granddaughter #3 fell and got stitches so her parents covered the stitches with a bandaid. After a couple of days they noticed irritation from the adhesive so you could clearly see the bandaid impression. They stopped with the bandaids but it took over a week to clear up. No action taken other than basic washing and applying a moisturizer.
Not worth a trip to the dermatologist unless it doesn't clear up in a couple weeks.
Weird. I agree that it has to be some sort of irritation or something. I'd just rub some cocoa butter or something on it for a few days.
I've have something similar right now. I have ringworm (thanks to our cat!) and have to use a topical medication. I was covering it with a bandaid to keep the ointment from rubbing off on my shirt. I ended up having a reaction to the adhesive on the bandaid and had a huge flaming red outline of the bandaid on my stomach. It was worse than the ringworm! A week later I still have a faint dark outline of the bandaid. It does get lighter everyday so I'm thinking it will be totally gone soon.
