Air embolism, learned in a Red Cross first aid course recently. Iodine effective but bad if allergic, thyroid problems.

Not allergic to iodine here so I use it on dirty cuts.

Neosporin otherwise.


Stop biting your cat.

whoever told you it could give you an air embolism is....well...really shouldn't be telling anyone that because it's unproven science. Looking it up online, studies are small, unproven, and using highly concentrated hospital-grade H2O2 (meaning, not what you're buying at Rite-Aid)

That being said, you shouldn't use Hydrogen Peroxide on wounds not because of an air embolism but because it's horrible for tissue, it degrades tissue and makes wounds worse and hinders tissue granulation -- new tissue growth. When I worked in the ER I had a doctor threaten to report me to the board if I *ever* used H2O2 on any patient with wounds while he was on staff. I did my research and he was right.

Use soap, use water, but don't use hydrogen peroxide on open wounds/tissues. Not for the air embolism (unproven science, at least for what you'll get over the counter) but because it does nothin to make your wounds cleaner, to heal faster and will actually make them heal slower and make them heal slower.

The gas bubble would be from O2 not an air embolism.

at any rate, I'm just telling you that the RN is not really giving you correct information.

The risk of a "gas bubble" or "air embolism" from hydrogen peroxide on a wound, that you're using household-grade H2O2 on is remote. Or you have a wound that is so large that you should be in a hospital setting.

S/he was scare mongering and poorly borne research that has not been replicated in the clinical setting.

You are far more likely to suffer a wound that does not heal properly from using hydrogen peroxide than you are to have a "gas bubble" or air embolism(gas bubble) from using hydrogen peroxide. It destroys tissue, not helps it, and should not be used on wounds.

However, it keeps the cuts moist.

I have read it's better to have the cuts dry out, so I have had success with hydrogen peroxide.

I still use it on brush burns and shallow cuts when they're dirty. Never had a secondary infection. Didn't use it on the wound when I put an ax into my ankle years ago.

to prevent chafing. I do use iodine for cuts, but never antibacterial ointments such as Neosporin ever since I realized Neosporin causes me to have an allergic rash and difficulty healing wounds.

thank you so much