Santyl ointment treats severe burns or skin ulcers in adults. Santyl helps remove dead skin tissue and aid in wound healing.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use Santyl ointment exactly as directed. To apply Santyl ointment, 

• Wash your hands first. Clean the area as directed by your doctor, cleaning solutions such as hydrogen peroxide, normal saline, or Dakin's solution may be used. Bandage securely. 
• Use a wooden spatula or gauze pad to apply the collagenase ointment to the affected area carefully. If your doctor has directed you to use an antibiotic powder, apply it first before applying this medication. If you need clarification about how to clean the affected area or apply this medication, consult your doctor.
• Be careful to apply the ointment only within the affected area. Wash hands thoroughly after applying the ointment.

Before using Santyl ointment, consider the following:

• Allergies
  Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or other medicines.
• Breastfeeding
  Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
• Drug Interactions
  Although certain medicines should not be used together, in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction occurs.
• Other Interactions
  Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
• Other Medical Problems
  Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
• Infection, active—Use with caution. It may make this condition worse.

Santyl Ointment has common side effects, such as pain or a burning feeling in the affected area may occur. Temporary redness/irritation may also occur in the skin around the affected area. To avoid redness/irritation in the surrounding skin, apply the ointment only to the affected area.

Treating burns and skin ulcers by breaking up and removing dead skin and tissue may rarely increase the risk of serious infection (sepsis). Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any symptoms of serious infection, including fever/chills, fast breathing (hyperventilation), fast heartbeat, warm skin, and weakness.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help immediately if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, or trouble breathing.

Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you notice other effects not listed above.

How long should you have to use Santyl ointment?

Continue using Santyl ointment as long as you do not have side effects and it's helping your skin condition. Usually, your provider will stop treatment when your skin wound has healed, all of the unhealthy tissue has been completely removed, and new, healthy skin has grown in its place.

Will your healthy skin become damaged if you accidentally get Santyl ointment?

Santyl doesn't affect the collagen in healthy tissue. However, you might get some redness in healthy skin exposed to Santyl ointment, so you should be careful only to use the ointment in the affected area.

What side effects can Santyl ointment cause?

Less serious side effects may be more likely, and you may have none.