A member asked:

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

6 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

Dr. Scott Bolhack answered

Specializes in Wound care

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.

Dr Lewis and another doctor agreed

Answered 2/29/2020

6.2k views

Thank

Dr. David Hardin answered

Ouch!: Besides the obvious discomfort from solutions that are usually alcohol based it is also damaging the exposed tissue.

Dr Lewis and 2 doctors agreed

Answered 2/29/2020

5.6k views

Thank

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A member asked:

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

6 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

Dr. Scott Bolhack answered

Dr Lewis and another doctor agreed

Dr. David Hardin answered

Dr Lewis and 2 doctors agreed

Related Questions

A member asked:

If someone w/ a cold sore on their chin & spit on my skin near my eye while talking & i used hand sanitizer. What are my chances of getting hsv1?

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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?

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Are there additional risks associated with using too much ethyl 70% alcohol to sanitize hands other than dry skin? Now a days I use it a lot due to Corona virus concerns.

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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?

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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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