How does the action of hydrogen peroxide mechanically clean a wound?

Answer 1

Hydrogen peroxide is used much less often today, except in some OB departments in hospitals. The reason, besides stinging when used, is that it causes tissue destruction at the wound edges which can make healing slower. Hospitals use Betadine solution (an organically-bound iodine solution) to cleanse wounds. For home use I would simply keep some Neosporin ointment available.

While hydrogen peroxide is relatively safe to use on a wound, it is much more suited for disinfecting inanimate surfaces. The reason for this is that the enzyme catalase is found in your blood. Catalase rapidly breaks down the hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen (the bubbles) before the peroxide really has a chance to help.

Answer 2

It doesn't, exactly. What it does do is sterilize wounds; hydrogen peroxide is highly damaging to bacterial cells. It's much less damaging to human cells (at least at the concentrations you can buy at the drugstore, usually around 3%) because human cells produce an enzyme called peroxidase which is capable of breaking it down safely.

Answer 3

Basically it good for wound cleaning. The problem however, is that as soon as you open a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, it starts to break down and loose its effectiveness. It is good to keep on hand for first aid because it will kill bacteria when used for wound cleaning and that prevents infection. When purchasing it for first aid use, buy small bottles that will last no more than 3 or 4 days and check expiration dates. It really has no ability to "heal wounds" it just helps prevent infection.

Answer 4

it is a disinfectant so kills the bacteria in the wound

Answer 5

The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide produces gas bubbles, which can carry soil out of the wound on their surfaces.