Band-aids, red salve, purple salve, alcohol peroxide, iodine iodophor, anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. are essential medicines in many of our homes, so many choices, which is the best to choose? I think many people are not clear.
No longer favored: red saline
Its sterilization, antibacterial effect is weak but non-irritating, suitable for fresh small area of skin or mucous membrane wounds (such as scrapes, bruises, etc.) of disinfection.
Because mercury has a certain degree of toxicity. If the red potion is used too much, it may cause mercury poisoning; mercury will also pollute the environment; some people who are allergic to mercury will also cause contact dermatitis. So the red potion slowly fade out of sight.
The edge of elimination: purple potion
In the home superficial injury treatment injuries, you can not treat their skin as a “barbecue”, anything to pour on it.
Purple potion can be used topically to treat skin and mucous membrane trauma infections and ulcers, small burns.
Its crusting ability is very strong, so it is suitable for superficial skin abrasions and so on. However, it is not suitable for deeper wounds because too rapid crusting can affect the drainage of exudate from the wound. Under the protection of the scab, bacteria may continue to spread and invade to the deeper part instead of aggravating the condition.
In view of the fear of cancer, some foreign studies have concluded that but the purple potion has some potential carcinogenicity.
Therefore, it is now clinically recommended that purple potion should not be applied to mucous membranes such as the mouth, anus, urinary tract, or broken skin wounds to prevent the development of cancer.
The “sour” feeling: alcohol
Alcohol is the most common antiseptic solution found in hospitals. When dealing with superficial wounds at home, you should not treat your skin as “barbecued meat” and pour everything on it.
Alcohol is not simply wine, alcohol only in the concentration of 75% sterilization ability is the strongest, not high and not low. So home red heart two pot head as well as wine is basically no disinfection effect.
In addition, the most important thing is that alcohol has a heavy stimulating effect, it can produce “sour” pain, so it is best not used to disinfect cuts, scrapes, burns and other traumatic skin.
Also has “sour” pain and strong hemostatic power: medical hydrogen peroxide
When it meets with wounds, pus or dirt on the skin, mouth and mucous membranes, it immediately decomposes to produce oxygen. This oxygen atom, which has not yet combined into oxygen molecules, has a strong oxidizing ability, and when in contact with bacteria, it can destroy the bacterial body and kill bacteria in the wound, especially anaerobic bacteria.
But like alcohol, hydrogen peroxide will also have a certain amount of tissue irritation, resulting in a “sore” pain. In order to avoid infection, it is better to fight.
The correct usage is: after rinsing the wound with hydrogen peroxide, rinse it again with saline.
Need to use with alcohol: iodine
Iodine, also called tincture of iodine, is a common medicine in first aid kits. It can denature the proteins of bacteria, so it can kill bacteria, fungi, etc., so it is often used to disinfect wounds. Iodine is so penetrating that it can even kill bacterial spores, but it is not harmful to humans. Because iodine is highly bactericidal but also highly irritating, it is important to use 75% alcohol (second cotton swab) for deiodination after disinfecting the skin, otherwise the skin will be burned.
Iodine is so irritating that it obviously should not be used for disinfection of broken skin. It should also be used with caution on newborns and those with iodine allergies.
A must-have remedy at home: iodophor
There is only one word difference between iodophor and iodine, but they are not twins, so don’t marry the wrong “wife”.
Iodophor has a broad-spectrum bactericidal effect, can kill bacterial propagules, fungi, protozoa and some viruses easy to be accepted by patients, and is widely used, accurate, less irritating, without alcohol deiodination, can be used for the disinfection of skin, mucous membrane broken wounds, such as small cuts, skin abrasions, contusions, and even burns, frostbite, etc..
Partners who don’t always use it correctly: Band-Aids
Band-Aids are only suitable for small wounds and, in this case, “small wounds” must meet the following conditions.
The wound is neat, does not bleed much, does not require stitches, and is superficial.
Band-aids should not be used for too long and should usually be changed daily for up to two days.
When replacing, the wound should be observed, and once the wound is red, swollen and pus filled, it must be stopped and medical attention should be sought.
Band-aids should not be wrapped too tightly when used, as they can easily lead to poor blood flow to the finger.
In order to prevent the band-aid from falling off, the method of applying the band-aid to the finger area is also important, see the picture.
Accidentally bumped and bruised, the severity of the damage varies, confused how to break?
If it is a minor bump, the skin is intact, immediately with the ice method (see the use of ice skills), can shrink blood vessels, relieve pain, at this time do not heat, rub, apply blood drugs, and do not have to use antiseptic drops.
If the epidermal abrasion, the wound surface a little blood, you can first use saline or mineral water and other clean water to show the dirty rinse clean, and then disinfected with iodine volts, and then sterile gauze bandage.
If the wound is deep, first rinse the wound with hydrogen peroxide, then with saline, and finally disinfect the wound with iodophor and sterile gauze dressing. Since this situation also requires consideration of a tetanus shot, it is recommended to go to the hospital to see a doctor for treatment.