[pct-l] If not Alcohol, how about iodine

[Ken Murray]

Christa, the best evidence currently available seems to indicate that virtually all antiseptic solutions, (alcohol, iodine, chlorhexidine, phisohex, silver compounds, hydrogen peroxide, etc)actually INHIBIT healing and DELAY healing.  This is because they all cause, to varying degrees damage to injured cells in a wound.  There is no problem applying them to intact skin, as we would before an operation.

For a traumatic wound, the best is actually plain old soap and water.  Soap is effective at killing all types of organisms, but is not injurious to damaged cells.

Hope that makes sense.