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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