The joke is poking fun at people who use Aureomycin (chlortetracycline) ophthalmic ointment as a supposed cure-all for cosmetic problems.
The implication is:
“If the placebo effect was a pomade.”
In other words, people online sometimes claim this eye antibiotic ointment can magically:
- Erase wrinkles
- Tighten skin
- Fade dark spots
- Act like Botox
- Cure various skin issues
Those claims aren’t supported by good scientific evidence. Any short-term improvement someone notices is more likely due to the ointment’s greasy, moisturizing base making skin look temporarily smoother—or simply the placebo effect—rather than the antibiotic itself.
It’s also worth noting that Aureomycin is an antibiotic formulated for the eyes, not a cosmetic skincare product. Using antibiotic ointments without a medical reason can:
- Cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.
- Contribute to antibiotic resistance.
- Delay proper treatment if there’s an underlying skin condition.
So the meme is essentially saying: “People think this ointment does everything, but the biggest ingredient is placebo.”
