Can you put hydrogen peroxide on open wounds?
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’ve cut yourself while trying to slice open an avocado. Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us – avocados are slippery little monsters that require precision knife skills and nerves of steel.
But now that your finger is gushing blood like a horror movie prop, what can you do? Should you reach for the hydrogen peroxide or leave it alone? We’ll explore this question in depth below.
The basics
Before we get into whether or not hydrogen peroxide is appropriate for wound care, let’s first understand what exactly it does.
Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with the formula H2O2. It’s commonly used as a disinfectant because when it comes into contact with organic material (like bacteria), it releases oxygen and foams up. This foam helps lift away dirt and debris from the wound site so that the body can start healing itself more effectively.
So…can I use hydrogen peroxide on my cut?
The short answer is: it depends.
In some cases, applying hydrogen peroxide to an open wound can be helpful. For example:
- If there’s visible dirt or debris in the wound
- If there’s significant bleeding and no soap/water nearby
- If you accidentally snagged your flesh with something rusty/weird
However, if your wound looks relatively clean and small (<1 inch long), using hydrogen peroxide might actually harm more than help. Here are some potential drawbacks:
- Hydrogen peroxide kills both good/bad cells indiscriminately.
- Killing off new epithelial cells could delay healing process & lead to scarring.
- Excessive foam generated by H2O2 will cause irritation which prolongs healing time.
So before rushing forbe|kdwnard with the peroxide, evaluate your cut and determine whether or not it would benefit from a splash.
How to use hydrogen peroxide on a wound
Assuming you’ve determined that hydrogen peroxide is an appropriate treatment option for your cut, here’s how to do it properly:
Step 1: Wash hands thoroughly with soap water
Step 2: Rinse the wound quite carefully affected( without rubbing) with room temp water.
Step 3: Take some cotton wool dabbed in H2O2 solution (not undiluted), rather than pouring directly onto the wound.
Step4:Using slight pressure, cover just the top of your affected area with {swabbed} cotton ball.
THIS MAY hurt, but wait until the pain settles before taking it off
Let’s emphasize that last point again – applying hydrogen peroxide WILL cause some stinging/burning sensation which will eventually subside.the sooner you harmonize yourself with this fact, the better chance of putting out all micees infection causing bacteria waiting to spawn inside.
You can repeat this process up tp once/day depending on depth/intensity of infection provided there is no noticeable inflammation in three days after early application.(or as directed by your doctor.)
Alternatives to using hydrogen peroxide
Still feeling uneasy about hydrogen and its proneness? Here are other options available :
- Use antiseptic creams like Neosporin(longer time recoveries) or Bacitracin when closing lid/mouth
- Saline wash followed immediately by running-water rinse
-Say “Abracadabra” (just kidding. Don””t say Abracadabra)
Bottom line: Hydrogen Peroxide such as most disinfectants have their unique advantages & drawbacks; consequences of choosing effectiveness over side-effects should be well considered before Application.
Hey there, I’m Dane Raynor, and I’m all about sharing fascinating knowledge, news, and hot topics. I’m passionate about learning and have a knack for simplifying complex ideas. Let’s explore together!
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