Hydrogen Peroxide Skin Care

Did you know that hydrogen peroxide skin care is not always a good idea?  Composed of only Oxygen and water, Hydrogen peroxide is a natural and effective sanitizer. The chemical compound for peroxide is H2O2 – it is a water molecule with an extra oxygen atom. It is an unstable compound and when it is exposed to air, it releases the extra oxygen atom and becomes water and oxygen.

All of the benefits of hydrogen peroxide are derived from the release of the extra oxygen atom, because the intense oxidation can breakdown other organic substances. The most effective use of peroxide is to destroy anaerobic (means “without oxygen”) bacteria by exposing them to oxygen. Many skin infections are caused by anaerobic bacteria and hydrogen peroxide can be an effective treatment for them.

Skin Care with Hydrogen Peroxide
Do not use peroxide on otherwise healthy skin. It can cause tissue damage to healthy cells – especially open wounds. If you have a wound that is not infected, you may want to use peroxide once or twice to sanitize the wound, but do not continue to use it beyond that – it will delay wound healing and cause damage to the new cell growth. Use only on wounds that are infected and use only until the infection is resolved.

Some people recommend using Hydrogen Peroxide as an astringent to prevent/treat acne. It can be an effective acne treatment, but should not continue to be used all over the face once the acne has cleared up. It can also be used as a spot treatment several times a day for existing pimples.

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