# What antiseptic is better, peroxide or alcohol? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 5, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195 "2006-03-05T23:52:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ArnoldIsNumeroUno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@ArnoldIsNumeroUno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArnoldIsNumeroUno)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/1 "2006-03-05T23:52:18Z")
??? ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/2 "2006-03-06T00:14:27Z")
For wound cleaning or insrument/surface cleaning? For wounds, soap and water, for surfaces/ instruments, I use isopropyl alcohol. Cyn, RN ---
**Author:** ![ArnoldIsNumeroUno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@ArnoldIsNumeroUno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArnoldIsNumeroUno)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/3 "2006-03-06T00:27:41Z")
> [@Cyn](#): > > For wound cleaning or insrument/surface cleaning? > > For wounds, soap and water, for surfaces/ instruments, I use isopropyl alcohol. > > Cyn, RN Sorry for wound cleaning ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/4 "2006-03-06T16:12:11Z")
Soap and Water? When I bust up a toe nail I was advised to use peroxide solution and avoid washing the wound until it was healed over. When is soap and water apropriate and when is alcohol or peroxide apropriate? ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/5 "2006-03-06T18:48:29Z")
On my medic unit, we carry both. We use pre-packaged alcohol wipes to clean off a patient’s skin before doing a finger stick to test for blood sugar. For open wounds and abrasions that might need a quick cleaning, we use peroxide. It’s less harsh than the alcohol. It ‘burns’ less. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/6 "2006-03-06T21:57:59Z")
My doc told me to use peroxide only when you need to deep clean a wound (get dirt out) and soap and water only during healing. Peroxide destroys the fibrous tissues that build scabs and so peroxide will delay long term healing. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/7 "2006-03-07T06:04:19Z")
We do skin biopsies where I work. Each doctor has their own woundcare handout that we give when he does a biopsy. 2 doctors say wash with soap and water twice a day, keep covered with a bandaid with Polysporin on it until healed (2-3 weeks). 1 doctor says wash with water twice a day, keep covered with a bandaid and Polysporin until healed (2-3 weeks). 1 doctor says wash with hydrogen peroxide twice a day and keep covered with a bandaid and Polysporin until healed (2-3 weeks). Yes, the wound will be a goopy mess for the first few days, and red around the edges, but this method is supposed to reduce scarring and chance of infection. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/8 "2006-03-07T14:27:45Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > For open wounds and abrasions that might need a quick cleaning, we use peroxide. It’s less harsh than the alcohol. It ‘burns’ less. Really? We use saline. We use the peroxide to clean blood off our uniforms. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/9 "2006-03-07T15:53:55Z")
I’d suggest neither, but just hot water and mild soap, then a Neosporin type salve and a bandage. For males, if it isn’t a serious wound, let it bleed freely under the warm water for a bit. For some wounds, the bubbling action of H2O2 is useful for deep cleaning. Alcohol is good when used to clean an area that is about to be “wounded”. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/10 "2006-03-07T16:32:48Z")
> [@St. Urho](#): > > Really? We use saline. We use the peroxide to clean blood off our uniforms. We also have those little bottle of saline _and_ distilled water. I have no idea why there’s all that redundancy. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/11 "2006-03-07T17:09:25Z")
> [@quietriot](#): > > That’s so interesting…my mother, who is a nurse practitioner always said NEVER to use neosporin. Interesting indeed. I had a couple of little skin tags snipped off a few years ago in the dermotologist’s office and they recommended using Neosporin till they healed. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/12 "2006-03-07T17:22:24Z")
I take it there’s room for disagreement among the experts? ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/13 "2006-03-07T18:20:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I’d suggest neither, but just hot water and mild soap, then a Neosporin type salve and a bandage. **For males,** if it isn’t a serious wound, let it bleed freely under the warm water for a bit. (Bolding mine.) Why would the treatment be different for males? ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/14 "2006-03-07T19:34:05Z")
Whatever happened to iodine? I remember it being used/recommended all the time when I was a kid. Now the only time I ever see it being used is on surgery shows. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/15 "2006-03-07T19:45:29Z")
What about pouring whisky on the open wound, the way my forebears used to do? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/16 "2006-03-07T20:39:05Z")
> [@tremorviolet](#): > > (Bolding mine.) > > Why would the treatment be different for males? This is somewhat odd. Males often/sometimes suffer from having too much iron, and a little bleeding now & then is good for them (thus, dudes- please do donate blood, it’s good for your health!). Females are more often iron deficient, thus bleeding= bad. However, letting the wound (\*if it isn’t very big mind you!) \* bleed freely under running clean warm water is a very good way of cleaning it. It’s just that for males it usually has a side benefit of getting rid of a little of the possible excess iron; and for the women out there, it can deplete a supply already short on iron. Iodine is rarely used for open wounds now. It still works, of course. It burns the wound somewhat, so it (like alcohol) is more often used on unbroken skin to disinfect it. I’d use it or alcohol if I didn’t have anything better. Oh, but if you have Mercurachrome, don’t use it. Whiskey is just diluted alcohol. It’s a poor sub. Experts debate back and forth about triple antibiotic cream. Yes, it works, and is safe. But if you’re fairly sure the the wound is clean and you’ll keep it clean, then not using anything (other than a bandage after it is well cleaned) can lead to better healing. **BUT!** It’s kinda like vitamins- \*if \* you’re are not: nursing, pregnant, or suffering dietary deficiencies, and eat right- then you don’t need them. Some MDs- figuring correctly that many of us don’t eat right- say go ahead and take 'em. Some say- well, if you’re not “nursing, pregant… and so forth” then _just eat right_, and don’t take them. I subscribe to the 1st school myself. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/17 "2006-03-08T01:14:22Z")
Just to maybe clarify the Neosporin thing, my derms don’t recommend Neosporin because it’s common to become suddenly allergic to it, causing undue itching and redness. Polysporin is less risky like that. ---
**Author:** ![Spongemom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Spongemom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spongemom)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/18 "2006-03-08T01:26:25Z")
What a perfect thread to come across - I have massive cat scratches and bites up and down my arm from a psychotic feline that came in the clinic today. I scrubbed it all with soap and warm water, then dabbed alcohol everywhere. Burned like a son of a bitch, but it helped rid the paranoia of getting cat scratch fever. Did I torture myself for nothing? ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/19 "2006-03-08T12:43:06Z")
> [@Spongemom](#): > > I scrubbed it all with soap and warm water, then dabbed alcohol everywhere. Burned like a son of a bitch, but it helped rid the paranoia of getting cat scratch fever. > > Did I torture myself for nothing? IMO, yes. Peroxide would have done the same thing, but burned less. Plus, it bubbles and foams up and looks cool. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195/20 "2006-03-08T18:20:22Z")
> [@Spongemom](#): > > What a perfect thread to come across - I have massive cat scratches and bites up and down my arm from a psychotic feline that came in the clinic today. > > I scrubbed it all with soap and warm water, then dabbed alcohol everywhere. Burned like a son of a bitch, but it helped rid the paranoia of getting cat scratch fever. > > Did I torture myself for nothing? You likely could have left off after the soap & warm water. BUT, if those were deep- a call to your MD to see if he wants you to come in is a good idea. Note, if your Medical professional dresses your wound- then whatever they do is almost certainly the best for you. However the procedure a Medical professional did in their office for one wound isn’t always the best thing for a different small wound that you dress at home, yourself. If you see what I mean. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antiseptic-is-better-peroxide-or-alcohol/347195.md?page=2)