Can I wash the wound with soapy water?

Soap is a common item, used in almost every household. However, soap can not only clean but also lubricate. The zippers of newly bought clothes are generally rough. You can use soap to smear the zippers. If there are burns on the skin, you can also use soapy water to wash it. So, can soapy water be used to wash the wound?

First, can we wash the wound with soapy water? If we are accidentally scalded or burned, we should immediately rinse it with clean water for about 20 minutes to cool it down. If the skin is not broken, we can apply some soapy water first, which can reduce swelling and relieve pain, making it easier to see a doctor. Also, if someone takes something they shouldn't and gets poisoned, or if a child accidentally swallows some small objects, we can let them drink some soapy water before taking them to the hospital. This will induce vomiting and make it easier for them to get treated in the hospital. First, cut the clean soap into small strips, then soak it in water to make soapy water. After drinking it, you can vomit out the poison, or have it excreted through the stool. This can reduce the degree of poisoning in the patient.

Second, the emergency method of cleaning wounds: hydrogen peroxide, that is, hydrogen peroxide, has a disinfecting and bactericidal effect, but its concentration is high and it can easily burn the wound skin. It is mainly used for superficial local wounds with certain infections; iodine tincture is a 2% solution made by dissolving iodine and potassium iodide in alcohol. It is mainly used for surface disinfection of non-mucosal wounds. It is often used for skin disinfection and wound disinfection before surgery and injection. It is generally not used for ulcerated wounds and is prohibited for those who are allergic to iodine. Povidone-iodine is a compound of iodine and polyol ether and is mainly used for surface disinfection of non-mucosal wounds. It is easy to use, non-irritating and odorless, can be applied directly to the wound, and has no pigmentation; mercurochrome, that is, 2% mercurochrome solution, mainly has the functions of bactericidal, disinfectant, antiseptic and promoting wound healing, but its antibacterial effect is poor, and it contains organic compounds of mercury, which are harmful to the human body. It is rarely used now; gentian violet, that is, 2% gentian violet solution, can accelerate wound healing and is often used for superficial skin and mucous membrane infections. It should not be used on mucous membranes or open wounds, such as knife wounds or sharp object wounds.

Is it okay to wash wounds with soapy water? From a chemical point of view, soap is generally alkaline. Bacteria will undergo a series of reactions under the alkaline conditions of soap, thereby destroying the bacterial cell walls. It is difficult for bacteria to survive after the bacterial cell walls are destroyed. The main component of bacterial cell walls is protein, and protein will denature and die under strong acids, strong alkalis or heavy metals. Not all soaps can play a disinfecting role. Only soaps with added bactericidal ingredients have bactericidal and disinfecting functions. Soap that does not contain bactericidal ingredients has no bactericidal or disinfecting function.