Can alcohol disinfectant be sprayed on wounds?

Alcohol-based disinfectants are not recommended for direct application on broken or injured skin; they are only suitable for disinfecting intact skin. Direct contact with wounds can cause irritation and impair healing. Detailed explanations are as follows:

The primary function of alcohol-based disinfectants is to kill microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, but they are also highly irritating. When a wound involves broken epidermis, exudate, or bleeding, alcohol comes into direct contact with nerve endings in the dermis, causing severe pain. Moreover, alcohol damages proliferating epithelial cells and granulation tissue essential for wound repair, slowing the healing process and potentially leading to more noticeable scarring after healing.

In addition, the irritant nature of alcohol may cause local discomfort such as redness and stinging. For deep or heavily contaminated wounds, spraying alcohol cannot effectively remove foreign matter from within the wound. On the contrary, it may exacerbate local tissue reactions due to irritation, indirectly increasing the risk of infection. Clinically, alcohol is acceptable for disinfecting intact skin, but for open wounds or damaged skin, milder, tissue-friendly antiseptics such as povidone-iodine or normal saline are preferred.

Therefore, when treating wounds, avoid directly spraying alcohol-based disinfectant on damaged areas. Instead, prioritize using specialized wound antiseptics such as povidone-iodine. If the wound is deep, involves significant bleeding, or shows signs of infection, prompt medical attention is necessary for proper professional management.