Hey all! So it’s my understanding that a lot of the expiry dates on medications and such are more like “best by/covering our asses” dates, and that typically (not for everything, obviously), at worst they lose potency over time rather than becoming unsafe to use.
I have a 425g jar of bacitracin+zinc antiobiotic ointment that is petroleum based. I love this shit for minor wounds (cuts/abrasions) and I have chronic cystic acne that responds really well to it in the later stages of healing and it has prevented a lot of scarring.
I still have quite a lot left, but it’s past expiration now.
My concern is the actual emollient going rancid. The product looks and smells the same as it always has, and I am careful to always use a clean q-tip when taking from the jar.
Is this safe to continue using? If so for how long?
Expired petroleum based ointments?
byu/OhMrsGellerYUCry inFrugal
Posted by OhMrsGellerYUCry
4 Comments
For sure. Until it smells off. Which it probably never will.
Mine past its date a few years ago, we’ve continued to use it without ill effect
My mom had like a 10 year old vat of zinc ointment and it was fine lol
It’s probably no long antibacterial but if it’s not ‘off’ looking or smelling it’s basically just petroleum jelly – which on it’s own helps healing of scratches and wounds.
That being said – it’s basically just petroleum jelly, which you can find anywhere for cheap, so personally I would toss it and just keep a small container of petroleum jelly in your first aid kit.