Gerontological Nurse Ventures
*Home>>>Wound Care

Hydrogen peroxide and wound care and references on how it works?


Hydrogen peroxide and wound care and references on how it works?

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is something you can buy at the drug store. What you are buying is a 3-percent solution, meaning the bottle contains 97-percent water and 3-percent hydrogen peroxide. Most people use it as an antiseptic. It turns out that it is not very good as an antiseptic, but it is not bad for washing cuts and scrapes and the foaming looks cool.

The reason why it foams is because blood and cells contain an enzyme called catalase. Since a cut or scrape contains both blood and damaged cells, there is lots of catalase floating around.

When the catalase comes in contact with hydrogen peroxide, it turns the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into water (H2O) and oxygen gas (O2) which causes the foaming.

It will do the same thing for the same reason鈥攃atalase in the damaged potato cells reacts with the hydrogen peroxide.

We went to a wound seminar the other day and now they are saying....do not use H202 , that it damages an open wound. prolongs healing.....harmful to new tissue.

H202? Don't drink it! Never!!! It is strong oxidant.

Tags
  Nurse Call   Journal of Nursing   International Nurse   Senior Nursing   Elderly Care   Wound Care   Home Nursing   Private Nurse   Male Nurse   Nursing Career   Nursing Job   Nursing Association
Related information
  • Opinions on Kangaroo Wound Care Options?

    PJJ, I tried the link to the photos and it did not work. Send me the photos in mail and I will take a look. Thanks. This is the message that I got at: ...

  • Can a RN delegate wound care to a physical therapist?

    IF the P.T. is QUALIFIED to care for your wounds... There is a chance that just because s/he is a P.T. in title doesn't necessarly mean that s/he doesn't have more qualification your n...

  • A general question about wound care and healing of minor skin abrasion?

    There are a host of issues that can cause slow wound healing (diabetes you have already ruled out). High stress, protein deficiency or malabsorption and enzyme deficiency are a few. Poor circulatio...

  • Surgical wound care?

    Keep it clean and dry. You can wash it daily with plain old soap and water on a washcloth. BUT don not put it under water by sitting in a pool, bathtub or such. A shower is fine to wash it but t...

  • Need wound care advice?

    If you think it is infected, you should go to the doctor. You might need to cut some of your hair so that you can cover it with a waterproof bandage. Since it is int he back of your head, you may b...

  • What is the use of a hyperbaric chamber in wound care?

    Hyperbaric oxygen therapy significantly increases oxygen provided to the healing tissue. This is especially important when the wound is infected and has compromised blood supply. Increased oxygen t...

  • I the use of hydrogen peroxide good in wound care?

    Yes,that's what is it for

    ...
  • What is a primary dressing and secondary dressing in wound care?

    Primary - the gauze or pad that is actually on top of the wound. Secondary - the wrap or tape that holds it in place.

    ...
  •  

    Categories--Copyright/IP Policy--Contact Webmaster