Why use antiseptics

Antiseptics, or skin disinfectants, are chemicals for cleaning the skin and wounds. They can kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms. Although antiseptics can be very useful, there are some questions around their safety for topical use, especially in the long term.

Keep reading for more information about antiseptics, including the types available, their uses, and current safety concerns. Antiseptics are chemicals that people apply to the skin.

They can reduce the number of microorganisms living on the skin, in wounds, and in mucous membranes. Healthcare workers often use antiseptics before carrying out medical procedures, such as drawing blood and performing surgery. Antiseptics are also available over the counter for cleaning and treating minor cuts. Some may also be suitable as a substitute for soap.

People can use antiseptics to clean areas of broken skin, intact areas of skin, and mucous membranes. Disinfectants, antibacterials, and antibiotics have similar but slightly different purposes. The sections below will outline these differences in more detail. People use antiseptics, such as peroxides, to kill microorganisms on the skin and mucous membranes.

Whereas antiseptics destroy certain germs on the skin, disinfectants can remove them from objects. Disinfectants and antiseptics are both made from chemicals. In fact, they often share similar active ingredients. However, disinfectants tend to have higher concentrations, which are not suitable for use on the skin or mucous membranes.

They have a lot in common, after all. Both are chemical agents used to reduce the risk of infection from germs and help stop the spread of disease. But, disinfectants and antiseptics also have differences in their use—differences that can be critical to your health and safety.

And, as you might already be wondering, how do disinfectants and antiseptics differ from antibiotics? An antibiotic is a chemical substance taken as a medicine to stop or kill specific bacteria or other microorganisms —but not viruses—that cause infectious diseases in the body. Many of us can quickly decode the word disinfectant. Less familiar is antiseptic. Antiseptic has several meanings, and can also be used as an adjective e. As noted, disinfectants and antiseptics have a lot in common in terms of what they do and are made of.

First, both disinfectants and antiseptics are chemical agents that kill or stop the growth of microorganisms, including bacteria , viruses, and fungi. Because they destroy microorganisms, both disinfectants and antiseptics can also be called antimicrobials.

Antimicrobial substances that kill bacteria are specifically called antibacterials. Antimicrobial substances that kill viruses are specifically referred to as antivirals. Antibiotics , again, are chemicals taken as medicines to destroy bacteria that cause infectious diseases; antibiotics do not work against viruses.

Also, both disinfectant and antiseptic products are commonly made with alcohols , iodine , chlorine , and hydrogen peroxide , among many other substances. Antiseptic — codes and concepts open. Treatment or procedure. Triclosan, Chlorhexidine, Alcohol wipes. References Book: Pharmaceutical Handbook. Ed Wade A. Nineteenth edition. The Pharmaceutical Press. Antiseptics : Dr Joseph F. JAMA Dermatol. Family Practice News. Sign up to the newsletter.

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