When you dab hydrogen peroxide on a cut, that white, fizzling foam is actually a sign that that the solution is killing bacteria as well as healthy cells.
There's no evidence that hydrogen peroxide can safely and effectively cure acne. In reality, hydrogen peroxide may actually increase scarring on the skin by interfering with the wound-healing process. It can also cause skin irritation and burns if used at too high of a concentration.
The ATSDR note that exposure to diluted solutions of hydrogen peroxide can cause temporary skin bleaching. An older study suggests that a concentration of 20–30% is necessary to lighten the skin — a range far greater than the 3% concentration deemed safe in household products.
A foam forms when bubbles of a gas are trapped in a liquid or solid. In this case oxygen is generated when hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water on contact with catalase, an enzyme found in liver.
First, you'll need to wash your face with a gentle cleanser, and then pat it dry. Do not rub your face or it could cause irritation. Next, saturate a cotton ball or cotton pad with hydrogen peroxide and gently dab it onto the affected areas of the skin. Leave the solution on for around five minutes.
While not necessarily a “mistake”, a common misconception is that if hydrogen peroxide bubbles, it means your wound is infected. Hydrogen peroxide will bubble whether your wound is infected or not. A chemical reaction occurs while cleaning and creates little oxygen bubbles. Don't sweat over the bubbles.
It's also really important to remember that just because you don't see foaming, it doesn't mean that hydrogen peroxide isn't killing, or that germs aren't present. It just means that there is no catalase.
While hydrogen peroxide isn't always effective as antibacterial agent, it is a bacteriostatic agent, meaning it inhibits reproduction of bacteria. In so doing, it can help to avert worsening of infections without actually killing all of the bacteria.
Hydrogen peroxide actually irritates the skin and inhibits wound healing. The advice about using it has changed because new research shows that the irritation it causes is not worth the antiseptic effect.”
Generally at this concentration you would need to have your teeth in contact with the 3% hydrogen peroxide for about 5 hours a day for about 2-3 weeks to have meaningful tooth whitening, which is very difficult to do with a watery liquid.
Hydrogen peroxide is a mild antiseptic used on the skin to prevent infection of minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. It may also be used as a mouth rinse to help remove mucus or to relieve minor mouth irritation (such as due to canker/cold sores, gingivitis).
Try a spot treatment or pimple patch
You've probably seen these emergency pimple treatments at the drugstore — usually an extra-strong solution of salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or benzoyl peroxide. And yep, they can actually get rid of pimples overnight.
Don't: Treat with Hydrogen Peroxide
Regardless of whether you have sensitive skin or not, it's a safe bet to treat blackheads with gentle products that are free of fragrances and irritants. Hydrogen peroxide is a commonly misused solution and is neither a gentle nor a valid long-term treatment.
Hydrogen peroxide is active against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, fungi, viruses, and spores 78, 654. A 0.5% accelerated hydrogen peroxide demonstrated bactericidal and virucidal activity in 1 minute and mycobactericidal and fungicidal activity in 5 minutes 656.
"It prevents healing rather than promoting it." That's because its reactive power isn't specific to germs. Hydrogen peroxide also kills normal cells within the wound — including healthy skin cells and immune cells — and slows blood vessel formation, all of which are important for wound healing.
Is there a way to tell if it's still good? Hydrogen peroxide is a pretty reactive substance, so there's a simple way to detect whether it's still good. Simply pour a little of the liquid into your sink and watch to see if it fizzes or bubbles.
Hydrogen peroxide is a common and effective active ingredient in many commercial teeth whitening solutions. Products containing peroxides, such as hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, act as bleaching agents to change the color of the teeth.
When hydrogen peroxide is poured on an open wound, the catalase instantly converts hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen – these breakdown products generate the fizzing reaction we see on the skin. The fizzing does actually help remove and clear debris from the open wound.
After adding hydrogen peroxide, bubbling indicates a positive reaction by Staph.
Using hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol to clean an injury can actually harm the tissue and delay healing. The best way to clean a minor wound is with cool running water and mild soap. Rinse the wound for at least five minutes to remove dirt, debris, and bacteria.
If you've only got a few hours…
Grab an ice pack, or a single ice cube if your fingers can bare it, and apply it directly onto your pimple. Hold it this way for as long as you can stand it, then take a break for a few seconds, and repeat at least twice more.
If you need an urgent fix, a dermatologist can provide a cortisone injection, which can help the pimple go away in a few hours to days instead of days to weeks. Your dermatologist can also recommend treatments to help prevent future breakouts, such as a retinoid or antibiotics.