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No, You Should Not Use Hydrogen Peroxide On Wounds

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical that is often used for cleaning, disinfecting and stain removal. It is also commonly used as an antiseptic to treat cuts, scrapes or other minor skin wounds.

Several people on social media (here, here and here) claim hydrogen peroxide should not be used to clean wounds because it can be irritating to the skin. VERIFY viewer Jehu asked whether these claims are true.

THE QUESTION

Should you use hydrogen peroxide on wounds?

THE SOURCES THE ANSWER

No, you should not use hydrogen peroxide on wounds.

WHAT WE FOUND

The Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and Houston Methodist all warn against using hydrogen peroxide to treat or clean wounds because it can irritate the skin.

"Hydrogen peroxide has fallen out of favor as a wound cleanser. Studies have found that it irritates the skin. It may prevent the wound from healing, doing more harm than good," Sarah Pickering Beers, M.D., a family medicine specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, said.

A blog post on Houston Methodist's website explains that hydrogen peroxide can kill "normal cells within the wound, including healthy skin cells and immune cells, and slow down blood vessel formation."

"Hydrogen peroxide is actually detrimental to wound healing. It prevents healing rather than promoting it," Michael Yaakovian, M.D., a surgeon and wound care specialist at Houston Methodist, said. "When you have an open wound, you don't have that normal skin barrier there protecting you anymore. This exposed area of tissue then becomes vulnerable to infection."

Rubbing alcohol, another product commonly thought to help sanitize wounds, also kills cells indiscriminately, which prevents healing, according to Houston Methodist.

So what is the best way to properly clean a minor wound?

"A good wash with soap and plenty of clean water is all you need," Beers said.

Houston Methodist and Mayo Clinic both share tips on how to care for minor wounds, like scrapes and cuts, on their websites. Some of their tips include:

Wash your hands. This helps avoid infection.

Stop the bleeding. Minor cuts and scrapes usually stop bleeding on their own. If needed, apply gentle pressure with a clean bandage or cloth and elevate the wound until the bleeding stops.

Clean the wound. Rinse the wound with water. Keeping the wound under running tap water will reduce the risk of infection. Wash around the wound with soap. But don't get soap in the wound. Remove any dirt or debris with tweezers cleaned with alcohol.

Apply an antibiotic or petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointments help prevent infection by covering the wound and acting as a physical barrier, but they also serve another purpose: they help keep the wound moist.

Cover the wound. Apply a bandage or gauze held in place with paper tape. Covering the wound keeps it clean.

Change the dressing. Do this at least once a day or whenever the bandage becomes wet or dirty.

Watch for signs of infection. See a doctor if you notice signs of infection on the skin or near the wound, including redness, increasing pain, drainage, warmth or swelling.

For larger wounds and gashes, excessive bleeding, or if there's debris stuck in the wound, you should seek medical care, Beers says.

While hydrogen peroxide should not be used to clean wounds, Beers says it is a great alternative to bleach and can be used to disinfect several things around the house, including bathtubs, sinks and showers, toilets, mirrors, refrigerators and garbage cans. You can also use it to sanitize beauty and nail care tools, fix stained nails, make mouthwash and keep your toothbrush clean.

"Hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria, fungi and viruses. It can come in handy if you don't have disinfecting wipes or bleach. Just be careful not to get it on your clothes or furniture, or it may bleach them," Beers said.

Making High Concentrations Of Hydrogen Peroxide At Home

Hydrogen peroxide – the same stuff you can pick up from a drug store or beauty supply store – is one of those very interesting chemicals that belongs on every maker's cabinet. At concentrations of about 30%, it's perfect for etching PCB boards, and at even higher concentrations – about 70% – it can be used as rocket fuel. Unfortunately for the home hacker, it's very difficult and expensive to obtain peroxide in concentrations above 3% or so. That's alright with [Charlie], though, because he's come up with a way to concentrate peroxide and measure the concentration once he's done.

There are a few YouTube videos of kitchen chemists concentrating peroxide by heating it on a stove to just under 100°C. Because hydrogen peroxide boils at 150°C, they're simply boiling off the water and increasing the concentration of peroxide. This is a qualitative method, and you'll never know what concentration you're getting. [Charlie] rigged up a small-scale with a pipette to measure the weight of his concentrated peroxide per unit of volume, giving him the density of his concoction and thus the concentration.

We have to note that concentrated peroxide is dangerous stuff, but the results of [Charlie]'s lab work aren't much more dangerous than what hair stylists work with every day. If you're going for high-test peroxide, good job, that's awesome, but do be aware of the risks.

Can You Use Hydrogen Peroxide To Whiten Your Teeth?

One of the first things someone might notice about you is your smile. Your smile can reveal features about your personality, including if you are closed-off, happy, introverted, or welcoming. Unfortunately, not everyone feels confident about their teeth, especially if they are yellow. Various circumstances, such as genetics and age, can cause yellow teeth. Smoking, certain foods, drinks, medications, and more can also make the teeth yellow. Whatever the case, having yellow teeth can deter you from smiling and, ultimately, ruin your self-esteem. However, there are ways to whiten your teeth, professionally and otherwise.

The Zoom treatment is one method to effectively whiten your teeth at the dentist's office. With Zoom, hydrogen peroxide gel is used and cured with a blue light laser to whiten teeth. Maya Allen wrote about Zoom for Byrdie and said about her experience, "My teeth were shades brighter than what they were before." Although using hydrogen peroxide in professional teeth whitening is nothing new, these treatments can cost hundreds of dollars. If this is out of your budget and you still want to improve your pearly whites, you can apply hydrogen peroxide at home to whiten your teeth using different methods.

The Proper Way To Whiten Your Teeth With Hydrogen Peroxide

If you've ever had a cut or scrape, you're likely familiar with hydrogen peroxide. This household staple comes in a brown bottle that can be purchased at the drug or grocery store. Hydrogen peroxide acts as a disinfectant and cleans the skin to stave off infections. If used correctly, it can whiten teeth thanks to its chemical composition (H2O2). Dr. Sarah Pickering Beers explained to Cleveland Clinic, "The extra oxygen molecule oxidizes, which is how peroxide gets its power. This oxidation kills germs and bleaches color from porous surfaces like fabrics." Teeth, however, are also porous, and hydrogen peroxide can safely remove stains from them.

You can do this by either creating a hydrogen peroxide mouthwash or a paste. Whichever you decide to make, ensure that the hydrogen peroxide you choose has a concentration of 3% to 10%. For the mouthwash, the key is to dilute the hydrogen peroxide by mixing it with equal parts of water. You'll swish this concoction in your mouth for 30 seconds to one minute before spitting it out. As for the paste, use a few teaspoons of baking soda and a bit of hydrogen peroxide to form a thick mixture. Brush your teeth with it for a maximum of two minutes before spitting out the mix and rinsing your mouth.

The Downside Of Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide has two main benefits — it's affordable, and it's not abrasive on the teeth. However, you don't have to do DIY teeth whitening. In fact, there are several whitening products on the market that already have hydrogen peroxide in them, including toothpaste, hydrogen peroxide-infused mouthwash, and whitening strips. Nevertheless, dentist Lilya Horowitz told Byrdie that some individuals should avert using hydrogen peroxide in their oral hygiene routine. She said, "If you have thin or worn down enamel, dental restorations that are failing or leaking, cavities, or inflamed gums, whitening is not recommended." In addition, there are side effects to be aware of.

Hydrogen peroxide can increase your teeth's sensitivity and irritate your gums. If this occurs or if you have concerns, see your dentist. There are also natural teeth whitening products that work. You could pull coconut oil in your mouth or use a baking soda paste made with water.Whitening strips made with coconut oil and other natural ingredients are also an alternative to hydrogen peroxide whitening strips. Experts note that professional whitening is the way to go if you want a thorough whitening with quick results. But regardless of what whitening method you choose, you'll be smiling a little brighter.

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