What is the best antiseptic for the skin?

September 23, 2022

Applying a good antiseptic is the first reflex to adopt in the event of a cut or injury. Among alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, hexamidine and others, which is the most effective and in which case to use it?

It is first of all necessary to differentiate antiseptic and disinfectant. An antiseptic is a treatment applied to damaged skin to locally eliminate bio-organisms. A disinfectant is applied to healthy skin or an object preventively to prevent infection. Both products have the effect of inhibiting growth or killing microorganisms ((virus, bacteria or mushrooms). There are many families more or less adapted to each use.

The best antiseptics for the skin

  • Thealcohol ethyl: in bottle or compress, alcohol is very effective against virus and bacteria: it kills new germs out of ten in thirty seconds. Contrary to popular belief, 70 ° alcohol is preferable to 90 ° alcohol. The latter causes a coagulation blood, which creates a film under which germs and bacteria will be able to develop. However, alcohol has several disadvantages: it stings, dries the skin and is flammable. It is rather to use in prevention as a disinfectant.

  • Chlorhexidine: well tolerated, it is active against bacteria and fungi. It is a good antiseptic for a superficial wound or scratch. It is also used in mouthwash. On the other hand, it is a neurological: it should never be used to clean her ears, because it could reach the brain in case of perforation of the eardrum. Chlorhexidine is often associated with alcohol (example: Biseptine) or with ammoniums quaternaries (example: Mercryl).

  • Eosin: this dye has almost no antiseptic action and it causes stains that are difficult to remove on clothing. It is mainly used for its drying effect, especially for diaper rash in infants.

  • Theoxygenated water : peroxidehydrogen acts a little on anaerobic bacteria and certain viruses, but its action is very slow. It is best to advise before using another antiseptic to stop bleeding.

  • Quaternary ammoniums: these surfactants, like detergents, kill or inhibit bacteria, but are completely ineffective on spores and viruses (eg Cetavlon or Sterlane).

  • Hexamidine: this antiseptic is very well tolerated and it is very effective against bacteria, especially staphylococci. On the other hand, it is weakly active on fungi (eg Hexomedine).

  • Derivatives ofiodine : they are active on a large number of bacteria, viruses and fungi but should not be used on deep wounds because of the risk of passage of iodine in the blood. Also be careful in case ofallergy with iodine. These antiseptics are especially prescribed before a small act surgery or in a foaming solution as a disinfectant soap (eg Betadine).

  • The derivatives of mercury : they prevent the multiplication of bacteria and certain fungi. But their effectiveness is limited and they can be allergenic. In short, they are not recommended (eg: Chromaplaie).

  • Chlorinated derivatives: in the form of hypochlorite sodium, these antiseptics act on bacteria, fungi, and viruses. They are well tolerated but can be kept for a fairly short time after opening (eg Dakin, Amukine).

How to properly heal a wound

Before applying the antiseptic, the wound should be cleaned with soap and water, then rinsed thoroughly as some antiseptics such as chlorhexidine or quaternary ammoniums are inactivated by soap. Never mix several antiseptics, because there are potentially toxic interaction phenomena, such as between iodine solutions and mercurial derivatives. Finally, it is important to respect the duration of use after opening indicated on the product, knowing that it may see its effectiveness decrease once started.

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