How to Clean Wounds: Hydrogen Peroxide or Soap and Water
BRIEF HISTORY
Hydrogen peroxide (or hydrogen peroxide) is an effective antibacterial solution that should never be used in your cuts and wounds. Interrupts healthy tissue and prolongs healing
Antibacterial soaps are full of antiseptics and toxic chemicals; these will also not improve your healing time.
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All you need to clean your wounds and start the healing process is water and mild soap, without triclosan, or triclocarban or fragrances By Dr. Mercola.
Cutting or scraping, both inside and outside your home, is common. These cutaneous openings produce an opportunity for bacterial growth and infections. The first cleaning of the wound will help to eliminate the unwanted bacteria and create an environment to help the open area to heal.
Most people turn to either soap and water, or hydrogen peroxide to clean the area before bandaging it. You should use the most effective cleanser without disturbing the tissue to stimulate the area to recover. Undoubtedly, one of these materials is better than the other.
Why is Hydrogen Peroxide an Excellent Option?
Hydrogen peroxide is used since the 1920s as an antiseptic, since it is effective in killing bacteria. An antiseptic is a substance that prevents the growth of microorganisms that cause diseases, such as bacteria.
Probably his mother used the brown bottle of hydrogen peroxide as a child and cut or scraped.
You may remember that it hurt to be applied to your cut. That pain or discomfort was the result of the peroxide activating the pain receptors in its cut or scrape, as it destroyed the bacteria in the area. This is much safer and more effective than the rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) that is commonly used, and stains less than iodine.1
Your Wound Needs Oxygen to Heal
Healing of wounds is a normal process that your body performs whether the wound is a very thin cut or a large incision after surgery. In any case, their cuts, scrapes and wounds heal faster, better and with fewer scars when there is a lot of oxygen available.2
The chemical composition of hydrogen peroxide is H2O2, which contains an additional oxygen molecule compared to water whose composition is H2O. When you pour hydrogen peroxide into a cut or scrape, you will notice the bubbling in the area, since hydrogen peroxide releases an oxygen molecule and turns it into water.
How Does It Destroy Hydrogen Peroxide to Bacteria?
Hydrogen peroxide acts against bacteria, breaks open cell membranes by attracting electrons. Within the bacteria is an enzyme called catalase, which produces the effervescence observed when hydrogen peroxide reacts with the enzyme and releases the oxygen molecule.3
Hydrogen peroxide is a very good antiseptic, but it is not able to distinguish between healthy cells and those of the bacteria in the wound. The peroxide attracts electrons from their healthy cell membranes, destroying them, and reacts with catalase in their cells, producing the same effervescence.
Actually, low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide are produced by your body after metabolizing sugar or carbohydrates, by stimulating the healing of wounds.
Their cells have catalase to inactivate the hydrogen peroxide produced inside the cells, but they are powerful against the hydrogen peroxide that is applied to a cut from the outside.
Excessive oxidative damage to the cells caused by external hydrogen peroxide will slow wound healing and increase your risk of scarring.4 Your cells use catalase to inactivate the hydrogen peroxide produced by the body for oxygen and water afterwards. that insulin metabolizes sugar inside cells.
This link between insulin, metabolized sugar, oxygenation, and hydrogen peroxide produced by your body may be one reason why people with insulin-resistant diabetes heal more slowly.
At present, most doctors do not recommend using antiseptic solutions of any kind to clean wounds or injuries for the same reason, hydrogen peroxide is not recommended. Often, this antiseptic destroys healthy cells, heals slowly and increases your risk of forming scar tissue.5
However, if you need a powerful and effective antiseptic, peroxide is my first choice, since it is much safer than iodine or rubbing alcohol (isopropyl). I always travel with a bottle of peroxide spray, as it is also useful for cleaning stains from clothes, especially when used with soap.
The Truth About Antibacterial Soap
Although the first patent for antibacterial soap was presented in 1984 by David Poshi and Peter Divone, which was a bar of soap Dial that made its first claim in the 1940s. Dial did not put "antibacterial" in its advertising , but he announced his soap as a way to make his body "super clean" by destroying bacteria and germs.
Dial uses a chemical, hexachlorophene, an antibacterial agent that has been shown to cause brain damage in newborns. In 1970, the company was ordered to remove the chemical substance from its soap.
Once Poshi and Divone tested their chemical, triclosan, against bacteria and received the patent, Dial was the first to add it to their products, stating that "the germs were dead on contact" .6
Currently, antibacterial soaps contain the chemical triclosan, despite the immense amount of research that demonstrates the negative health problems that this triggers.
The companies of antibacterial soaps have mounted large advertising campaigns, stating that soaps would make their environment safer and provide an additional layer of protection against diseases.7
In December 2013, after 40 years of study, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States announced that it would review the safety of triclosan, citing studies that suggest that it may interfere with levels. hormones in laboratory animals and increase the growth of drug-resistant bacteria.8,9
On December 16, 2013, the FDA expressed concern that antibacterial soap would increase the amount of drug-resistant bacteria. Another statement, published only three days earlier by Dr. Colleen Rogers, the lead Microbiologist at the FDA, indicated that antibacterial soaps were not effective against bacteria:
"In fact, there is currently no evidence that over-the-counter antibacterial soaps (OTCs) are more effective in preventing disease than washing with soap and water."
In any case, in September 2016 a decision of the FDA is expected to be issued, following a lawsuit filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), in response to decades of delays by part of the FDA to regulate for or against triclosan and other antibacterial substances.10
The Dangers of Triclosan
Triclosan is an antiseptic substance, and is not recommended for cleaning cuts and scrapes, as it prolongs wound healing and increases the risk of scarring. However, there are also other reasons why you should not use antibacterial soaps in your home.
In June 2015, the agency responsible for monitoring the use of chemicals in the European Union announced that triclosan would be eliminated from hygiene products because the risks of using the product exceeded any perceived benefits.11 The research has related to the chemical products used to make antibacterial soaps with:
How to properly wash wounds?
The best way to clean a cut, scrape or wound is with a soft and safe soap, and plenty of water. Choose a soap without triclosan, triclocarban or fragrance.17 Before cleaning your cut, you should wash your hands. This helps reduce the potential to transfer bacteria from the hand to the wound.
While bleeding the wound, mild to moderate bleeding may occur. After cleaning, apply direct pressure to stop bleeding and if possible raise the area above the level of the heart. This helps reduce the amount of blood to the area, to help stop bleeding.
Rinse the wound with water for five to ten minutes. This helps eliminate dirt and debris from the area. You may feel more comfortable cold water than warm water, but either is adequate. If you have a sprayer in the kitchen sink, you can try to use it to help clean the wound.18
After rinsing thoroughly between five to ten minutes to remove dirt and debris, use a mild soap with a clean cloth or gauze to wash the area, and press gently.
Scrubbing with force can alter the area and prolong the healing time without any additional benefit by cleaning it. Cover the area to keep it moist and clean. Wounds that remain moist and crusty are healed better and are less prone to scarring.19,20
Why Should Silver Be in Your Medicine Cabinet?
The antimicrobial properties of silver are known since 400 BC, and until the early twentieth century, silver was commonly used as an antimicrobial agent to treat wounds. Modern science has not only confirmed the antimicrobial effects of silver, 21,22,23,24,25 it has even been shown to be effective against antibiotic resistant bacteria.26,27
Tests like these reveal that silver destabilizes the structure of the cell membranes of bacteria, which makes them more porous, and allows silver to enter the bacterial cell and destroy it.
Also, a hydrofiber gauze containing silver has been shown to offer effective protection against the proliferation of a wide range of aerobic, anaerobic and antibiotic resistant microorganisms.28 In addition, the nanoparticles of the silver incorporated in a thermo-sensitive gel have been shown to be effective against Staphylococcus aureus.29
A study in 2010 found that colloidal silver effectively destroyed drug-resistant Staphylococci, Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Pseudomonas aregnosa, 30 the latter of which occurs normally in hospitals and in people with weak immune systems.31
When considering the risk of getting a drug-resistant infection, it seems reasonable to conclude that keeping a high quality silver bottle in your medicine cabinet would be a prudent strategy to use every time you have a cut, scrape or other topical wound.
Tips to Accelerate Healing
Once the wound is clean, there are several steps you can take to increase the speed of healing and reduce the potential for scarring.
1. Honey
Honey was used to fight infections until the 20th century. However, generally processed A-grade honey found in the grocery store is nothing more than high fructose syrup and may actually increase the risk of infection. Instead of this, use unpasteurized Manuka honey. This honey is produced by bees that release Manuka flowers and could be more effective than antibiotics against some types of bacteria.32
2. Coconut oil
Virgin coconut oil has a double benefit since it keeps your skin moist and improves its proliferation of fibroblasts, as well as wound healing.33 Only, use virgin coconut oil in the area, twice a day.
3. DuoDERM
The DuoDERM is a brand of hydrocolloid gauze34 that covers the wound, protects it from bacteria and keeps it moist to improve the healing time. In addition, they reduce pain in the area while providing a protective cover.
4. Avoid Smoking
Avoid smoking Wound healing requires a good blood supply and smoking reduces the blood supply to the skin through vasoconstriction, and decreases the absorption of vitamin A, necessary for skin health and healing.35
5. Food
There are several options you can take each day that will reduce your healing time and improve your overall health.36
Beta-carotene or vitamin A
Often, foods rich in vitamin A or beta-carotene are orange, such as sweet potatoes, carrots and winter squashes. Do not take a vitamin A supplement if you are pregnant, nursing or trying to get pregnant.
Vitamin C
Your body uses it to make collagen and form new tissue. It is soluble in water. It can take up to 3,000 milligrams (mg) per day. Decrease its amount in case of presenting diarrhea.
Vitamin C interacts with some medications, including chemotherapy, estrogen, warfarin and others. If you take medication consult your pharmacist about known interactions. Foods that are rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, broccoli and berries.
Zinc
Stimulates wound healing and can be used as an oral supplement through zinc tablets or applied directly on the wound in the form of cream. DO NOT apply on open wounds and do not take a long-term supplement. Foods that are rich in zinc are pumpkin seeds, oysters, veal, beef, cashews and mushrooms.
Vitamins B
They can accelerate wound healing and improve skin health. Foods that are rich in many of the B vitamins include spinach, broccoli, veal liver, lentils, parsley and bell pepper.
Bromelain
It is an enzyme that is found in pineapple, it could reduce inflammation, bruising and improve healing time.
L-arginine
It is used after surgery to improve healing. Foods that are rich in arginine include chocolate, peanuts, chicken meat, beef, lamb, milk, and cheese.
When to Go with a Doctor
You may need to see a doctor to treat a cut or wound, either immediately after the injury or at some time after an infection. The following signs and symptoms usually require medical attention.37
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