BBG,
Nobody seems to want to answer your question. So here's my 2 cents.
Time for healing of a wound is actually variable. It can depend upon the nature of the wound, the depth, the type of tissue injured, the injuring agent, etc.
On skin...ie, outside the body, the first thing you do is clean the site. Alcohol works because it degreases the area and physically removes local germs on the skin. It is NOT an anti-infective agent. You get "wiped" before an injection to reduce the bacteria embedded in the oily layer on your skin. This reduction in bacterial numbers is useful.
Hydrogen peroxide can be bacteriocidal to certain germs. It also dissolves blood residue and can clean by "foaming" the surface. The usual OCT concentration is 3% and at your beauty supply store you may find 5-6%. This percentage is getting pretty strong and in some people can cause chemical burns. In dentistry, we use up to 30% H2O2, called Superoxol. This WILL cause a chemical burn and in a pinch can be used as rocket oxidizer.
Neosporin and similar products are antibiotics. As such, they, in fact do kill a variety of germs for a time that exceeds the limited contact time of the other mentioned agents. As long as you have a treated dressing in contact with the wound, and change it regularly, the antibiotic is working on any susceptible organisms.
What you percieve as reduced healing time may be because, 1) Alcohol is a drying agent and the scab just seems dry and healing. 2) Peroxide, dissolves blood and some of the clot so you may see a dissappearance of the scab sooner but immature skin is underneath. 3) Neosporin, especially if used with an occlusive dressing keeps everything kind of greasy and wet. The scab never looks dry, like its getting ready to fall off.
Please use care with puncture wounds. None of these agents are going to penetrate well. You could well need a tetanus booster.
I prefer to clean wounds at home, at the office and on the boat with Hibiclens surgical soap--4% Chlorhexidine Gluconate, followed by Neosporin or other triple antibiotic. I prefer a non-occlusive dressing to allow air in. The Hibiclens has a property of substantivity--it is absorbed into the skin and continues to kill germs that contact the site for some time after washing. It can be used without water--although you would probably want to wash it off--but even salt water can do that or even better, drinking water. There is some alcohol in the Hibiclens.
If the wound is going to get wet, then you have to use a waterproof dressing--3M Nextcare waterproof bandages are great. They work if you can get the surrounding skin dry and free of oil or Neosporin at the time of application. Done properly, they rarely come off underwater. Later, though, when the wound will not be getting wet, remove this bandage and apply one that breathes.
A wound that can be closed "skin to skin" will heal faster than a scrape. Scrape type of wounds require the formation of a scab and then the replacement of the scab by skin. A cut on the otherhand, that can be closed together, forms little or no scab except at the surface and healing is directly between the sides that touch.
As a dentist, various recommendations have been made as to how to cover a wound and treat patients. While not FDA approved, superglue is recommended to close small cuts and scrapes--it creates a barrier and then that is covered with rubber gloves. There are now some medical superglues that do away with sutures in some cases--I use them in the mouth. Finally, there are products like NuSkin which forms a barrier over the injury. NuSkin and Neosporin don't work well--it's like putting butter in the frying pan and then frying the eggs--they don't stick because of the grease. I carry superglue in my dive medical kit, along with Hibiclens and Neosporin. BTW, the Hibiclens is available without Rx at better pharmacies or surgical supply stores.
You might also be interested to know that I carry super absorbent feminine napkins in my kit as well! They are clean but not sterile. If you are really bleeding though, they will soak up gobs of blood and allow pressure to be applied. They bind with the blood and help stop the bleeding. They don't fit under a bandaid though. Their bulk can also help splint a finger or toe as well.
If you are sensitive or allergic to any of these products then don't use them. A puncture wound, a wound that is red, warm to the touch and with "deep" soreness should be seen by a physician. Redness or red-blue to purplish discoloration extending away from the wound is also a reason to see the doc.
Puncture wounds from animal bites or envenomations should not be closed with suture or superglue and should not be covered with a waterproof dressing--get to the doc.
Finally, you have some sort of answer--hope it was what you were looking for.
Now, I have to go clean fish!
Regards,
Larry Stein
Disclaimer
(No representations are made that in any way offer a diagnosis, treatment or cure for any illness or condition, either discussed or implied. Answers to questions are offered as information only and should always be used in conjunction with advice from your personal diving physician/dentist. I take no responsibility for any conceivable consequence, which might be related to any visit to this site.)