No Tetnus, No Hydrogen Poroxide

[mkmoro311]

So I've always heard that when you get cut to wash the wound out with Hydrogen Poroxide especially when your child is not vaxed with the Tetnus vax. Well on "The Doctors" show today it a big misconception to wash a wound out with HP an to only use soap and water, what do you think?

[Ruthla]

I would use soap and water first, get all the "gunk" out of the wound, and then use hydrogen peroxide afterwards.

I didn't see the TV show you watched, so I don't know the exact context of their recomendation. Perhaps they meant that hydrogen peroxide won't get all the "gunk" out of the wound, and you still need to use soap and water no matter what, but people were using H2O2 instead of soap and the wounds were getting infected?

Or maybe they honestly don't know much about tetanus (other than blind faith in the vaccine) and don't know the benefits of H2O2 for tetanus prevention.

Or maybe they simply meant that most wounds bleed enough, and oxygenate the wound enough, so that there's no need for hydrogen peroxide once the bleeding stops. This is also true- it's deep puncture wounds that don't bleed well that are the biggest tetanus risks.

In any case, H2O2 can't cause any harm to a wound, and it might prevent a systemic infection, so why not use it?

[momma_unlimited]

My husband is a homeopath and he just rinses wounds with water (no soap)and takes Ledum if it's a puncture wound... and applies a salve with antibacterial properties. He's stepped on a couple nails in the past few years and its been ages since his last tetanus booster, but no problems.

[traycanadian]

Either our FB or ND told us that hydrogen peroxide damages the skin tissue around the edge of the wound. We use soap and water.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by traycanadian

Either our FB or ND told us that hydrogen peroxide damages the skin tissue around the edge of the wound. We use soap and water.

yes I have heard this too....

[FernG]

Originally Posted by traycanadian

Either our FB or ND told us that hydrogen peroxide damages the skin tissue around the edge of the wound. We use soap and water.

I've read this as well. I rinse with water and soap, but if the wound looks red and puffy the next day and seems to get worse, then I use some HP. It does seem to kick the infection quickly.

[MyBoysBlue]

What's the big deal with a bit of skin tissue damage? Skin heals. I use peroxide all the time.

[bbrandonsmom]

From working in a vets office, I found out not to use peroxide either. It damages the tissue so the body has to work harder to heal.
We use soap and water.