ANTISEPTICS
Antiseptics are medicines
that slow or stop the growth of germs and help prevent infections in
minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.
Purpose
Antiseptics are applied to the skin to keep bacteria from getting
into wounds and causing infection. Although Antiseptics do not
usually kill bacteria, they do weaken them and slow their growth.
Simply applying an Antiseptic to a wound is not adequate treatment.
The wound should be cleaned first and in most cases it should be
covered with a bandage or other type of dressing to keep it clean
and moist while it heals. However, some Antiseptics, such as Phenol,
can damage the skin if the wound is covered after they are applied.
Others, such as Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine should be allowed to
dry completely before the wound is covered.
Because Antiseptics can irritate the skin and even interfere with
the healing process, they should be used sparingly. Some medical
experts advise people to use antibiotic ointments instead of
Antiseptics because they can actually kill the bacteria that may
cause a wound to become infected.
Description
Some commonly used Antiseptics are Isopropyl Alcohol, Hydrogen
Peroxide, Iodine, Phenol, Methyl Salicylate and Thymol. Most of the
antiseptic products on the market contain one or more of these
ingredients. These products can be bought without a doctor's
prescription.
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