The effect of commonly used antiseptics on wound healing

Acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and povidone-iodine solutions were applied to experimental wounds in rats and to human donor sites to test their effects on wound healing. Control donor sites were treated with saline or dry Owens gauze. The acetic acid and povidone-iodine solutions had no significant gross or microscopic effect on the wounds. The hydrogen peroxide solution seemed to hasten the separation of the scab and to shorten the healing time, though characteristic bullae and ulceration appeared if the hydrogen peroxide treatment was applied after the crust had separated, when new epithelium was visible. We believe that the use of hydrogen peroxide should be avoided after crust separation. When only dry Owens gauze was used to treat split-skin graft donor areas, the result was a 3-day prolongation of the scab separation (compared to the saline controls) and greater subepidermal reactive and inflammatory changes.