Why you should stop using hydrogen peroxide to heal wounds

Surely you are one of the people who uses hydrogen peroxide after having made a wound to disinfect it. Or, perhaps, you have also used it after having done a piercing or earring.

However, hydrogen peroxide is not always the most convenient.

Hydrogen peroxide — which is its scientific name — is a chemical compound with the formula H2O2 and has been used as a first-aid antiseptic for broken skin since the 1920s, according to Davis Regional Medical Center.

In fact, it's common to find it in home first aid kits.

Yes, hydrogen peroxide contains antiseptic properties but it is not the best option to heal a wound.

Thus, when hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with your skin, in addition to killing bacteria, it attacks its cells, which actually ends up harming the healing process, according to Muy Interesante.

In this sense, although hydrogen peroxide is believed to be a good first aid antiseptic, there are questions about its long-term benefits.

The caustic nature of hydrogen peroxide can destroy healthy cells and therefore affect wound healing, according to Dr. Rachel Rader.

However, hydrogen peroxide has bactericidal effects that allow it to clean the wound and kill bacteria.

Despite this, doctors say the benefits do not outweigh the risks of damaging skin cells and the process of new blood vessel formation.

Even in the long term, there are a number of wound cleansing options available that will help remove biofilm and reduce bioburden in the wound. Of course, without affecting healthy skin cells.