Read on to learn more about antiseptics, including how they compare to disinfectants, the different types, and safety information. Antiseptics and disinfectants both kill microorganisms, and many people use the terms interchangeably. Adding to the confusion, antiseptics are sometimes called skin disinfectants. An antiseptic is applied to the body, while disinfectants are applied to nonliving surfaces, such as countertops and handrails. Both antiseptics and disinfectants contain chemical agents that are sometimes called biocides.
Hydrogen peroxide is an example of a common ingredient in both antiseptics and disinfectants. However, antiseptics usually contain lower concentrations of biocides than disinfectants do. Antiseptics have a variety of uses both in and out of medical settings. Antiseptics are usually categorized by their chemical structure. All types disinfect skin, but some have additional uses. Some strong antiseptics can cause chemical burns or severe irritation if applied to skin without being diluted with water.
Whereas antiseptics destroy certain germs on the skin, disinfectants can remove them from objects. Disinfectants and antiseptics are both made from chemicals. In fact, they often share similar active ingredients.
However, disinfectants tend to have higher concentrations, which are not suitable for use on the skin or mucous membranes. Antibacterials are also chemicals that people can use to clean areas of the skin. Soaps and sprays often contain antibacterials. Antibacterial sprays are effective in killing or slowing the growth of bacteria. They do not kill or prevent viruses from growing, however. Both antiseptics and antibiotics can treat bacterial infections.
People can apply both types to the skin or mucous membranes. However, a person can also take antibiotics orally, to treat a variety of infections inside the body. There are several types of antiseptics. Some are safe to use at home, whereas others are only suitable for use in clinical or hospital settings. The FDA have deferred judgment on an additional six ingredients at the request of manufacturers. The FDA have banned several active ingredients because of the unknown long-term effects on the body.
There is also little evidence regarding their effectiveness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC still advise that healthcare professionals follow all current recommendations for the use of antiseptics. Antiseptics are used on living organisms, such as human skin, to kill any microorganisms living on the bodies surface. Disinfectants are used on non-living things, such as countertops and handrails, to kill the microorganisms living on that inanimate surface.
Antiseptics are typically found to have a lower concentration of the particular biocide which is used in that product to clean the surface than that of a disinfectant. Since the disinfectants are not meant for use on living tissues, but rather inanimate surfaces, they can use the higher concentration of biocide in the product since there is no skin or tissue to worry about irritating.
Antiseptics require the lower concentration of biocide as too high of concentrations of certain biocides could cause high amounts of skin irritation. Some examples of antiseptics are mouthwash or hand sanitizer, both of which are safe to come in contact with your skin, and, also, are able to be extremely effective at killing high amounts of microorganisms.
Also, both disinfectant and antiseptic products are commonly made with alcohols , iodine , chlorine , and hydrogen peroxide , among many other substances. Many of us are most familiar with disinfectants in the form of various brand-name household cleaning products, such as Clorox bleach or Lysol spray. Disinfectants are widely used in other settings—not least of which are public facilities and medical offices. When using these products, words like clean , sanitize , and disinfect often get used interchangeably in everyday settings.
And indeed, they can have overlapping senses. But, cleaning generally implies scrubbing something with soap and water, as to remove dirt and grease. Sanitizing and disinfecting indicate a use of special chemicals to get rid of germs. To disinfect a surface, you usually need to leave it thoroughly wet with a disinfectant for several minutes—and often even longer than you would just to sanitize.
The CDC makes even more precise distinctions between these words. We think they are worth quoting in full, because infectious diseases like the flu and COVID can spread on the many hard surfaces we interact with in our day-to-day lives, from doorknobs to phone cases to handrails:.
Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects. Cleaning works by using soap or detergent and water to physically remove germs from surfaces.
This process does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection. Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces or objects.
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