Which is better for a painful cut or burn?

The + Lidocaine version. It adds lidocaine for numbing on top of the same triple-antibiotic infection protection, so it suits painful cuts, scrapes and minor burns better than Original.

Is the + Lidocaine version worth the extra $3.30?

Only if pain relief matters to you. The antibiotics are identical, so you are paying $8.28 instead of $4.98 for the numbing agent alone.

Do they prevent infection the same way?

Yes. Both use bacitracin zinc, neomycin sulfate and polymyxin B sulfate and claim 24-hour infection protection. Original also states it kills 99.9% of germs in 15 minutes in lab studies.

Which helps with scars?

Original. It claims HeliDerm Technology and helps minimize the appearance of scars; the + Lidocaine version makes no scar claim.

Can I use either on a child?

Both are adult-labeled ointments. Ask a doctor before using either on children under 2, and check for neomycin allergy, which applies to both tubes.

How often do I apply them?

Both are applied a small amount at a time, one to three times daily, after cleaning the wound. Cover with a bandage for extra protection.

Neosporin + Lidocaine Antibiotic Ointment vs Neosporin Original Antibiotic Ointment

Buy Neosporin Original if you want plain infection protection at the lowest price: $4.98 at Lowe's as of November 7, 2026, versus $8.28 at Walmart for the + Lidocaine tube. Buy the + Lidocaine version if numbing a painful cut, scrape or minor burn matters more than the $3.30 difference. Both are 0.5 oz triple-antibiotic ointments from the same brand, so the real choice is pain relief versus price.

Today the Neosporin Original Antibiotic Ointment costs $3.51 less at its best price.

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