Is Hydrogen Peroxide Harmful to Skin?

The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR), for example, note that low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can cause skin irritation and blistering. They recommend that if the chemical touches the skin, a person should wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.

Because hydrogen peroxide has very strong bleaching properties, it can lighten dark skin areas such as dark spots caused by sun damage, aging, scars or hormonal changes. However, this process will irritate and destroy the user’s skin a lot.

Transitory blanching of nonacral skin has been observed after contact with a 3% solution of H2O2. This phenomenon was reproducible in all tested whites, but was not reproducible in black skin. Blanching developed within 30 to 300 seconds after contact with H2O2 and lasted from 10 to 30 minutes.

Dermal exposure to dilute solutions of hydrogen peroxide cause whitening or bleaching of the skin due to microembolism caused by oxygen bubbles in the capillaries. Dermal contact with solutions of 35 % hydrogen peroxide cause mild skin irritation.

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.

To disinfect, first clean any visible dirt or grime off the area with plain soap and water. Then spray surfaces with a 50/50 mix of peroxide and water. Let it sit for five minutes or longer. Rinse surfaces that touch food, like cutting boards, but let other surfaces air dry.

Hair dye with hydrogen peroxide is considered permanent dye, which means that it will only go away as new hair grows. This is because hydrogen peroxide works in the hair cortex, the innermost part of the hair that holds the pigment that gives hair its color.

Shock, coma and convulsions may ensue and pulmonary oedema may occur up to 24-72 hours post exposure. Severe toxicity has resulted from the use of hydrogen peroxide solutions to irrigate wounds within closed body cavities or under pressure as oxygen gas embolism has resulted.

Hydrogen Peroxide is a colorless, odorless liquid. Because pure Hydrogen Peroxide is unstable and an explosion risk, it is usually in a water solution. It is a common oxidizing and bleaching agent and is used in deodorants, water and sewage treatment, and rocket fuels, as a disinfectant, and in making other chemicals.

Ultimately there is good evidence for safe daily use of hydrogen peroxide at low concentrations over long periods, however, with high concentrations and prolonged exposure, oral soft and hard tissue damage can occur.

The Results. It was actually a close call, but bleach was the big winner on the brightening front when it came to these two dingy tees. The hydrogen peroxide did a great job of lightening the shirt, but a bit of yellowing still remained.

Hydrogen peroxide used to be a popular antiseptic for cleaning wounds and treating acne. But it’s not a good idea to use it for those purposes, since it can irritate your skin. If you don’t want to throw away your brown bottles, you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean and disinfect around the house.

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