Hydrogen Peroxide for Wound Care: Benefits, Risks & Proper Use

Hydrogen peroxide is an odorless, colorless solution that accelerates your body's natural bacteria-fighting powers. Hydrogen peroxide comes in multiple grades -- ranging from 3.0 percent for skin wounds -- to 90 percent, which provides oxygen content for rocket fuel. You don't need to use hydrogen peroxide for every cut and scrape, unless stitches are necessary, the cut is deep enough to warrant stitches in the future -- or in an especially high-risk situation that places the wound at greater risk of infection, according to the American College of Head and Neck Surgery.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber gloves
• Antibacterial soap
• 2 clean towels
• Cotton swabs
• Gauze
• Antibacterial ointment
• Adhesive bandage

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Instructions

• 1

  Put on your rubber gloves and remove any excess debris or dirt particles from the skin; then wash the area with antibacterial soap and a clean towel. Dry the wound with a second clean towel. If the wound contains stitches, be especially gentle to avoid loosening the stitches.

• 2

  Soak a cotton swab or pad with hydrogen peroxide. Apply the pad directly to the open wound. You'll notice bubbling almost immediately at the wound site.

• 3

  Apply a pea-sized amount of antibacterial ointment to the wound, after the hydrogen peroxide stops bubbling. Cover the entire wound site with a clean adhesive bandage.

• 4

  Repeat this process after taking a shower, or anytime you change the bandage.