Hatrack River Forum: Random question.

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Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :

Can one use vinegar to disinfect wounds?

And if hydrogen peroxide is a weaker base than water...doesn't that put it on the acidic side when compared to water?

-pH

Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :

I'm trying to look up a comparison of acetic acid (found in vinegar) and hydrogen peroxide (a different acid) to answer your question, but I'm not having much luck, and my chemistry-minded son is not available right now for me to ask.

Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :

However, I found at This Site a question from a nurse about using acetic acid to heal wounds..

Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :

Is it possible that vinegar or hydrogen peroxide could irritate the wound and make it worse? That link says that in one instance, there were increased strep bacteria in wounds treated with vinegar... [Eek!]

-pH

Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :

I'm trying to imagine circumstances in which anyone would have been taught to put vinegar in a wound, and can't come up with one.
Is this one of them thar NewOrleans voodoo thangs that only work on the undead?

Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :

[ROFL]

I'm just trying to come up with a way to make my hypothetical wound heal more quickly if it is not in a place that lends itself to Band-aiding.

-pH

Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :

If it isn't a dirty wound, there is nothing better than a simple washing with soap and sterilised water, rinsing, then application of an antibiotic ointment such as Bacitracin. If it's for a piercing, put eg Bacitracin on the ring or whatever runs through the hole.
If it's a dirty wound, it should be attended to by a physician who will probably use a dilute boric acid wash.

And if you got pierced, do not let anyone tell ya "Oh yeah, it just does that. It happened to me too." Some of the sites which are too often pierced for cosmetic reasons heal extremely slowly, and can become sites of very dangerous infections.
Any unusual pain, swelling, heat, etc by your own normal healing standards, go to a doctor IMMEDIATELY, even if it means going to an EmergencyRoom.

And you should know I don't recommend ERs for anything less than an injury that can cause disfiguration, permanent tissue damage, crippling, or death.

[ April 14, 2006, 07:03 PM: Message edited by: aspectre ]

Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :

quote:
Originally posted by pH:
Can one use vinegar to disinfect wounds?

No. Do not put vinegar on a wound. Wash with soap and water, or with sterile isotonic saline solution, apply bacitracin and a dressing.

quote:
And if hydrogen peroxide is a weaker base than water...doesn't that put it on the acidic side when compared to water?

-pH

Water is neither acid nor alkaline. The H+ is balanced by the OH-. And this from someone whose screen name is pH! [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Dante (Member # 1106) on :

Aha! I knew I carred that flask of sterile isotonic saline solution around with me for some reason.

Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :

I know that, Tante. [Razz]

I'm saying that in comparison to water, that would make hydrogen peroxide acidic...eh, the site I was reading had an awkward wording.

Soap would, I think, be a bad idea at this point. It would probably irritate the skin. It's not infected; it's just not healing as quickly as I would expect. [Mad]

-pH