#Image cleaner as good as history kill skin#

“Peroxide kills bacteria, fungi and viruses,” Dr. Hydrogen peroxide is a great germ-killer for: Rinse surfaces that touch food, like cutting boards, but let other surfaces air dry. Then spray surfaces with a 50/50 mix of peroxide and water. To disinfect, first clean any visible dirt or grime off the area with plain soap and water.

#Image cleaner as good as history kill skin#

“There’s a chance of toxicity if you inhale it, and it can irritate the skin and eyes,” Dr. Use peroxide in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves. It’s a great alternative to bleach and won’t make your house smell like a swimming pool. Move your peroxide from the medicine cabinet to the cleaning cabinet. Get ready for the wonderful world of H202-you can use hydrogen peroxide to: Disinfect If breakouts still won’t take a hike, see your doctor. Use products with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid for acne breakouts. So the germ-killing effects don’t last long on the skin.” Benzoyl peroxide forms a film on the skin so it can penetrate the pore and continue to fight acne bacteria for several hours. Beers explains, “Hydrogen peroxide can be irritating, which can make acne worse. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide for acne.Īs Dr. But hydrogen peroxide and benzoyl peroxide are not the same. Peroxide kills germs, and you may have acne treatments that contain benzoyl peroxide. Seek medical care for larger wounds and gashes, excessive bleeding or if there’s debris stuck in the wound. Then apply an antibiotic ointment and cover it with a bandage. After washing, pat dry with a clean towel. So what do you use on a scrape or cut? “A good wash with soap and plenty of clean water is all you need,” Dr. It may prevent the wound from healing, doing more harm than good.” “Studies have found that it irritates the skin. “Hydrogen peroxide has fallen out of favor as a wound cleanser,” Dr. Let’s all breathe a collective sigh of relief. It’s time to retire peroxide from first-aid duty. Hydrogen peroxide can be used everywhere from your kitchen to your bathroom. And that high strength isn’t necessary for cleaning and disinfecting.” When not to use hydrogen peroxide “Food-grade peroxide can be toxic if you inhale it or get it on your skin. It’s called “food-grade” because the food industry uses it for several purposes, such as processing and bleaching certain foods. You can also buy a more concentrated form of hydrogen peroxide, called food-grade peroxide, with strength as high as 35%. “Medical grade is strong enough for household use,” says Dr. That means it’s 97% water and 3% peroxide. When you use peroxide, go for medical-grade peroxide, which is 3% strength. “This oxidation kills germs and bleaches color from porous surfaces like fabrics.” “The extra oxygen molecule oxidizes, which is how peroxide gets its power,” says Dr.

Hydrogen peroxide is water (H2O) with an extra oxygen molecule (H2O2). Family medicine physician Sarah Pickering Beers, MD, explains why hydrogen peroxide is helpful to have around. In fact, hydrogen peroxide has plenty of uses, some of them surprising. However, peroxide is often used in non-medical situations, including for cleaning, disinfecting and stain removal. Policyįound in a brown bottle, hydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic liquid that in the past was typically used to treat cuts or other skin wounds, and kill germs.

We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.