Should You Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Clean Wounds?

Hydrogen Peroxide: It fizzes, it stings, but does it actually do you any good? Find out on this week's Quick Question!

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[joshuahettinger]

I just dip the wound into boiling water. Any bacteria that can survive that deserve to infect me.

[_____________________]

Lol, Hydrogen peroxide is for kids. Real men use Dihydrogen Monoxide.

[Phauxtoe]

being a former Kid and Skateboarder, the Fizz helps remove and loosen embedded Dirt and Gravel!
(way better than a scrub brush!)

[AveryMilieu]

Peroxide use was recommended by a physician to remove debris from road rash and cuts. It's OK to kill off a small layer of your own tissue at this point (I was told) to make sure that damaged and potentially infected cells are removed before the healing starts.
Peroxide is also used to help remove bandages that have been sealed to the wound by clotting blood and healing tissue.
I kind of like the bubbles. It's reassuring that no dead tissue will be there to get funky while the injury is healing.

[Rissy]

As a nurse, we generally don't use hydrogen peroxide on wounds (even though I grew up using it all the time!). When I rarely use hydrogen peroxide for things at work, I usually dilute it with normal saline.

Simple wounds, I tell my patients normal saline (which I give them) or soap and water.

[TheJonix]

On the other hand, it's AMAZING at removing blood Very useful tip!

[hackprefect]

Hydrogen peroxide never hurt me. Alcohol and iodine, now those hurt.

[TCUsouthpaw]

When I was a kid I never remember peroxide hurting. But alcohol sent me through the roof. Anyone else?

[darkshadow]

ive always found that hydrogen peroxide dosent hurt, especially compared to alcohol. soap sounds fucking brutal though

[SolidStructureWC]

If your get gets a cut on their limbs, the best policy is always to amputate and cauterize. If the scratch is on their head or face, then the best policy is to attempt a full body transplant.

[Gus-twzw]

I wonder how many people are sending this to their mother haha.

[MattsMotorz]

One time I stabbed my finger with my mechanical pencil by mistake and it got infected. I spent day after day pouring peroxide on it in the morning for like 2 weeks, but the wound would always fill right back up with pus by the end of the day and after I woke up. So finally one evening I read about peroxide and I instead just poured soap right into the wound and rinsed with water. No peroxide. The very next morning it was SO MUCH BETTER and it was totally closed up with no infection in like 2 days. AMAZING! Moral of the story, don't use peroxide!

[empathy_is_only_human]

This advice, like many things in the field of medicine, is subject to the circumstances under which it is utilized. Most of the time, any bacteria that might infect an abrasion is benign enough that allowing our bodies immune system to take those pesky bugs out of this world with extreme prejudice is certainly the preferred methodology these days. However, if the invading bacterium is causing more harm than would a dousing of hydrogen peroxide. Then it can be beneficial overall. This really does come down to common sense. A bit of rug burn with a few abrasions isn't likely to cause an infection that our bodies can't deal with. However, if you cut your leg while wading through sewage contaminated waste water. Well then it's probably better to play it on the safe side. Endure the burn and watch for signs of infection. Common sense, as uncommon as YouTube videos that lack trolls in the comment section.

[FluffZillaNZ]

Those healthy cells were a sacrifice I can live with. Never got an infection in a Peroxide treated cut ^_^

[Phlegethon]

Yes you should, my cousin had a wound that wouldn't close and started to get infected. Finally he used hydrogen peroxide and it finally solved it.

[RangerXML]

I always liked the way hydrogen Peroxide felt on my wounds, tickled.

[nateslovebug]

I always opted for rubbing alcohol over peroxide because the smell of peroxide (especially once introduced to a wound) was sickening to me, while rubbing alcohol just smelled chemical-y to me.

[PhilNEvo]

You misspelled "antiseptic".

[Leetky]

this is absolutely a question I've had wanted answered since I've gone multiple routes for how best to heal cuts. Thank you.

[SirTickleTots]

That's strange, does hydrogen peroxide actually sting? In all of my years when i was a kid, it never seemed to hurt me. Maybe I'm the weird one.