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A 36-year-old member asked:

What is better for scratches: hydrocortisone or antibiotics? which is safer?

1 doctor answer • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Barbara Stark Baxter
Dr. Barbara Stark Baxteranswered
Allergy and Immunology 44 years experience
Scratch treatment: Most scratches don't require medication. If there is bleeding, your body will make a scab that will close the wound. It depends on what scratched you. Cat scratches, can be infectious. If your scratched area develops an infection, you need to have it checked. But if you must pick one or the other, pick antibiotic for most scratches. Unless it was poison ivy, then you have a 96% chance of allergy.
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Dr. Alan Ali
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Last updated Jul 30, 2018

Found in:

Poison ivy›Contact dermatitis (rash)›Antibiotic

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