Does Bactine expire? 

Does Bactine expire?

Yes, Bactine does expire. The expiry date is usually printed on the packaging. However, Bactine can easily outlive its expiry date if it is stored and used in the right way. 

Bactine is available in the form of liquid preparation which acts as an antiseptic. It helps clean minor wounds and prevents them from getting infected. 

If you use the liquid right and protect it from extreme temperatures, you can use it safely for a long time. However, if the Bactine preparation is used recklessly, it could become contaminated. 

What are the dangers associated with the use of expired Bactine? 

If you’re using Bactine that has recently expired, it will help you with your painful cuts and scrapes, and will most likely not cause any harm. 

However, using Bactine that expired years ago will definitely not help you. The liquid antiseptic starts to lose its antimicrobial property with time and it may not work or clean your minor wounds with full potency. This is why you should avoid using expired Bactine or any other medication for that matter (1).

What to do if you have used expired Bactine? 

As we have just discussed, a recently expired Bactine will not harm your minor wound. In fact, it will still be able to achieve your desired therapeutic outcome. 

However, it is not recommended to use Bactine which expired years ago, especially on open wounds. If your skin gets irritated after using it, talk to your healthcare provider. 

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References

1.-

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Don’t Be Tempted to Use Expired Medicines [Internet]. Silver Spring (MD): U.S. Food and Drug Administration; 2021 [cited 2022 Oct 20]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/dont-be-tempted-use-expired-medicines.