They’re the first-aid staples we turn to for minor cuts and burns. But antiseptic and wound-healing creams now contain a wide array of ingredients, from medical agents to natural bug-fighters. But are they any better for it? Caroline Jones asked London-based consultant dermatologists Dr Ophelia Veraitch, from the Cranley Clinic, and Dr Kristina Semkova, from the Cadogan Clinic, for their verdicts. We then rated them. Germolene Antiseptic Cream Claim: This well-known cream ‘combines the antiseptic action of chlorhexidine’ with a ‘soothing local anaesthetic to numb the pain’. Apply after cleaning the affected area with warm water. Expert verdict: Dr Semkova says: ‘A favourite for almost 100 years, Germolene’s main ingredient is chlorhexidine — recommended by the World Health Organisation to prevent surgical infections. But it can occasionally cause allergic reactions.