Question 1

why is it harmful to put hand sanitizer on broken skin or open wounds?

Accepted Answer

Skin Tear: A wound should not have anything toxic on it. Hand sanitizer is toxic because the contents have alcohol. While it can kill bacteria, it also kills good healthy cells interrupting a healing process.

Question 2

my cat pricked me on the top side of my back today. cat up to date w/ shots. doesn't seem to be broken skin or bleeding, just irritated. i tried washing it with soap and water with a scrub and then put hand sanitizer on it. hoping that was sufficient?

Accepted Answer

: You should be fine.

Question 3

how harmful is it to get fluocinonide in open wounds? i have bad psoriasis on my scalp and am always scratching, which results in a lot of broken skin and open wounds. i just put on my fluocinonide 0.05% and had severe stinging all over my head once i app

Accepted Answer

Don't : Don't worry. The stinging most likely resulted from the vehicle that the medicine was in (ie, foam, lotion, gel, etc). Sometimes these have alcohol in their base vehicle which certainly doesn't not feel good in an open wound. The amount of systemic absorption that you get from topical application of a steroid of this strength is extremely minimal and almost negligible...Across normal skin and in an area of broken skin. You have done no harm to yourself.  L would recommend asking your doctor for a the medicine in a different vehicle to avoid the sting.

Question 4

i put hand sanitizer with 70% ethyl alcohol on a very open cut on my head. will i get alcohol poisoning? i put a decent amount

Accepted Answer

No: Not to worry. You wont get alcohol poisoning.

Question 5

can hand sanitizer make dry skin?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Most hand sanitiziers have alcohol in them which can dry out your hands, make sure to find one without it in the ingredients.

Question 6

i used hand sanitizer twice today the skin on my right hand is broken will this effect my immune system or anything on my body?

Accepted Answer

Likely not: It is likely no more important than a scratch on your skin surface. Keep the area clean and avoid the hand sanitizer for a week or so and the skin should self heal.

Question 7

my sons hands have reacted terribly to hand sanitizer. they are very dry and red, almost look sunburnt. is there anyway to treat or avoid this? perhaps a safer hand sanitizer for sensitive skin?

Accepted Answer

Hand washing.:  Why not just have him wash his hands with a moisturizing soap with warm water (not hot).  Hand washing with good technique is the gold standard.

Question 8

child scratched me after swam in dirty pool, broke skin, little blood. hand sanitizer, washed 5 min w/ soap. how long to know it's not infected? days?

Accepted Answer

Couple of days: If it does not become, red, swollen or painful by a couple of days since the incident, you should be okay. You may apply Neosporin ointment to the wound.
For good health - Have a diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, milk and milk products, nuts, beans, legumes, lentils and small amounts of lean meats. Avoid saturated fats. Drink enough water daily, so that your urine is mostly colorless. Exercise at least 150 minutes/week and increase the intensity of exercise gradually. Do not use tobacco, alcohol, weed or street drugs in any form. 
Practice safe sex, if you have sex.

Question 9

i touched a wet trash can and i have small cuts under two of my nails and dry skin not sure if it was some one bodily fluids alot or not and i didnt immediately wash my hands or had no hand sanitizer on me i washed them 5 hours later am i at risk?:0?

Accepted Answer

: Superficial skin infections are always possible and that’s why keeping wounds covered until healed may be protective. Infections, such as HIV or hepatitis B and/or C are not possible in above mentioned scenario.

Question 10

theres small tiny red bumps on my hand. only on the back side of my hand not on any other skin. is it possible that hand soap caused it? i accidentally used a hand soap as a hand sanitizer without water for two days. but only one hand has, why?

Accepted Answer

: If there's no itching an allergic reaction or contact dermatitis isn't likely but still possible. I would expect both hands to have an itchy rash with an allergic reaction. It could be a primary irritation eruption from harsh detergent and/or vigorous rubbing of that hand. You could try applying a mild corticosteroid ointment. See your physician or a dermatologist as needed.

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Doctor answers about:

Hand sanitizer on broken skin or open wounds

A member asked:

Why is it harmful to put hand sanitizer on broken skin or open wounds?

A member asked:

My cat pricked me on the top side of my back today. cat up to date w/ shots. doesn't seem to be broken skin or bleeding, just irritated. i tried washing it with soap and water with a scrub and then put hand sanitizer on it. hoping that was sufficient?

A member asked:

How harmful is it to get fluocinonide in open wounds? i have bad psoriasis on my scalp and am always scratching, which results in a lot of broken skin and open wounds. i just put on my fluocinonide 0.05% and had severe stinging all over my head once i app

A member asked:

I put hand sanitizer with 70% ethyl alcohol on a very open cut on my head. will i get alcohol poisoning? i put a decent amount

A member asked:

Can hand sanitizer make dry skin?

A member asked:

I used hand sanitizer twice today the skin on my right hand is broken will this effect my immune system or anything on my body?

A member asked:

My sons hands have reacted terribly to hand sanitizer. they are very dry and red, almost look sunburnt. is there anyway to treat or avoid this? perhaps a safer hand sanitizer for sensitive skin?

A member asked:

Child scratched me after swam in dirty pool, broke skin, little blood. hand sanitizer, washed 5 min w/ soap. how long to know it's not infected? days?

A member asked:

I touched a wet trash can and i have small cuts under two of my nails and dry skin not sure if it was some one bodily fluids alot or not and i didnt immediately wash my hands or had no hand sanitizer on me i washed them 5 hours later am i at risk?:0?

A member asked:

Theres small tiny red bumps on my hand. only on the back side of my hand not on any other skin. is it possible that hand soap caused it? i accidentally used a hand soap as a hand sanitizer without water for two days. but only one hand has, why?

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