Silbecor is a silver sulfadiazine 1% cream used on burns and infected wounds. It prevents and treats infection in burnt skin, and is also used for leg ulcers, pressure sores and skin grafts. It is applied to a cleaned wound, and is not suitable during pregnancy or for newborns.
What is Silbecor?
Silbecor contains silver sulfadiazine 1%, a topical antibacterial cream. Depending on the pack it is Schedule 2 or 4.
It works through two components acting together. Silver ions are broadly antibacterial — they disrupt bacterial cell membranes and interfere with their DNA, and bacteria develop resistance to silver only slowly. Sulfadiazine is a sulfonamide antibacterial. The combination covers a wide range of organisms, including Pseudomonas, which is a particular problem in burns and is resistant to many other topical agents.
The cream releases silver steadily over hours, which is why it is applied as a thick layer rather than rubbed in.
Burns are unusually vulnerable to infection, and that is the whole reason this medicine exists. Skin is the body’s principal barrier; a burn removes it over an area, leaving warm, moist, protein-rich damaged tissue exposed. Burn wound infection is a leading cause of complications and of poor healing, and preventing it changes outcomes.
Silver sulfadiazine acts on the surface. It is applied to prevent and treat infection in the wound, not to speed healing directly — though a wound that does not become infected heals considerably better.
What is Silbecor commonly used for?
Silbecor is used on damaged skin at risk of, or with, infection:
- Burns — partial-thickness (second-degree) burns in particular, both to prevent and to treat infection.
- Scalds.
- Infected wounds, where a broad topical antibacterial is appropriate.
- Leg ulcers, including venous and diabetic ulcers.
- Pressure sores.
- Skin graft donor sites, and areas awaiting grafting.
- Some abrasions and traumatic wounds.
Assessment matters more than the cream for anything beyond a small burn. Before reaching for a dressing, know that these burns need medical attention rather than home treatment:
- Anything larger than the palm of the person’s hand.
- Burns on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or over a joint.
- Deep burns — white, leathery, brown or charred skin, or a burn that is oddly painless because nerve endings are destroyed.
- Chemical or electrical burns.
- Burns in a baby, young child or older adult.
- Any burn in someone with diabetes or a weakened immune system.
- Any burn where smoke may have been inhaled.
First aid comes first, before any cream. Cool the burn under cool — not ice-cold — running water for 20 minutes, ideally within three hours. This genuinely limits how deep the burn becomes. Remove jewellery and loose clothing from the area, but leave anything stuck to the skin alone. Do not apply ice, butter, toothpaste or ointment while cooling, and do not burst blisters.
How Silbecor fits into this medicine category
| Group | Examples | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Topical antibacterials for burns | Silver sulfadiazine (Silbecor) | Burns, ulcers, pressure sores |
| Topical antibiotics | Mupirocin (Supiroban), fusidic acid | Impetigo, infected cuts, small bacterial infections |
| Topical antifungals | Clotrimazole (Fungistop Topical) | Fungal skin infection |
| Antifungal + steroid | Clomaderm | Inflamed fungal infection |
| Antiseptics and dressings | Chlorhexidine, various dressings | Cleaning and protecting wounds |
See the skin, wound and topical medicines hub.
What to check before using Silbecor
Clean the wound first, then apply a layer roughly 3–5 mm thick with a clean glove or sterile spatula — thick enough that the wound is not visible through it. Do not rub it in.
Reapply as directed, usually daily or when the cream is rubbed off, cleaning away the old layer first.
Speak to a doctor or pharmacist before using it if:
- You have a sulfa allergy. Silver sulfadiazine is a sulfonamide, and if you have ever reacted to a “sulfa” medicine, say so before it is applied.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding, particularly near term — it is generally avoided.
- The person is a newborn or under 2 months, where it is avoided because of the risk of kernicterus.
- You have kidney or liver disease, or the burn is extensive, since more can be absorbed from a large area.
- You have G6PD deficiency.
- The burn meets any of the criteria in the list above needing medical assessment.
Note the grey staining. Silver sulfadiazine commonly produces a grey-black discolouration on the wound and surrounding skin. This is a harmless reaction between silver and the tissue — not gangrene and not infection — but it is alarming if you are not expecting it, and it can make a wound harder to assess.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
Watch for infection despite treatment. Increasing pain, spreading redness beyond the wound edge, swelling, pus, an offensive smell, red streaking, or a fever mean the wound needs review promptly.
With large burns, enough can be absorbed to matter: sulfonamide effects on blood counts and kidney function become possible, and extensive use warrants monitoring.
Do not use it long term on a chronic wound without review. Silver sulfadiazine can slow healing in some chronic wounds, and modern dressings may be more appropriate — leg ulcers and pressure sores in particular benefit from proper wound assessment rather than an indefinite cream.
Rash or worsening irritation means stop and seek advice.
Keep the wound covered as directed, and do not burst blisters.
Check tetanus cover. Any burn or wound breaking the skin is a reason to confirm your tetanus vaccination is up to date.
Seek medical attention for a burn meeting any criterion listed above; for spreading redness, swelling, pus, an offensive smell or red streaking; for fever or feeling generally unwell after a burn; for a wound that is not healing or is enlarging; for any wound in someone with diabetes; for a widespread rash; or for unusual bruising, bleeding or sore throat during prolonged use over a large area.
Related medicine guides
Frequently asked questions
What is Silbecor cream used for? Preventing and treating infection in burns, and in infected wounds, leg ulcers, pressure sores and graft sites. It contains silver sulfadiazine 1%.
What should I do first for a burn? Cool it under cool running water for 20 minutes, ideally within three hours. Cream comes after cooling, not instead of it.
Why has the wound gone grey or black? Silver sulfadiazine commonly stains the wound and surrounding skin grey-black. It is a harmless silver reaction, not gangrene.
Can I use it if I am allergic to sulfa medicines? Tell your doctor or pharmacist first. Silver sulfadiazine is a sulfonamide.
Can I use it on my child? Not in a newborn or infant under 2 months. For older children, and for any burn on the face, hands or over a joint, get it assessed.
How thick should I apply it? About 3–5 mm — thick enough that you cannot see the wound through it. Do not rub it in.