About Rubbing Alcohol on Acne Skin

A delicate, sensitive organ, skin can find rubbing alcohol very harsh and drying.

Rubbing alcohol is widely available in drug stores for a variety of uses. It's next of kin, isopropyl alcohol, is often used in a similar manner as rubbing alcohol. It is sometimes touted as a way to cure acne-laden skin and other times harangued as being terrible for skin. Nobody's skin or acne is the same, so it impossible to say whether one remedy will work for you, but it is a good idea to refer to studies for guidance on how to treat common medical problems, such as acne.

Identification

Rubbing alcohol is a strong-smelling liquid that is often used as a disinfectant for wounds or areas about to be punctured, such as by a tattoo artist or a doctor. It can also soothe, cool, or warm the skin depending on how it is applied. The liquid is comprised of 70 to 95 percent ethanol, combined with water, acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone and other additives that give it a bitter taste. It is made bitter tasting as a deterrent from drinking the liquid, as it is hazardous to human health when consumed.

Isopropyl rubbing alcohol, regular rubbing alcohol's close cousin, consists primarily of isopropyl alcohol or isopropanol. Isopropyl rubbing alcohol is different from rubbing alcohol in that it is predominately used as a solvent or a cleaner, instead of for therapeutic uses.

Beneficial Uses

Many athletes and patients have rubbing alcohol applied to their wounds because it can be cooling and soothing. It is also used by doctors as a cleaner for skin, especially on cuts and abrasions, or prior to surgery, and also works to disinfect surgical instruments.

Effects on Acne

Skin that is infected with acne can often be attributed to a build-up of excess oils and dead skin, not dirt, as is commonly believed. Isopropyl alcohol, when used on skin that has been washed, can dry up excess oils that are trapped in the skin. This drying effect could work to reduce acne through the reduction of oil, but it can also have the alternate effect of over-drying the skin, and thus irritating it. Excess irritation can also lead to acne, as well as other skin problems. A way to combat excess dryness is to apply a hypoallergenic lotion to skin after an application of rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol can also reduce the bacterial count on skin, which is beneficial because bacteria that grows in pores is another leading cause of acne.

Considerations

Rubbing alcohol can be excessively drying to the skin, causing it to crack, peel and turn red. It can also cause contact dermatitis, a reaction that can include itching, redness, hives and blisters. Some skin, when over-dried, will produce even more excess oil to compensate for the extreme dryness, thus worsening the problem of acne. Applying rubbing alcohol to your face can also be dangerous if there is a risk for inhalation, ingestion or contact with your eyes.

Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol

Isopropyl rubbing alcohol can be used to help with disinfecting things, but is also used to harden or thicken the surface of skin, making it a prime tool for hikers who are prone to blisters, or guitar players who need their fingertips hardened to press down strings.

References

• What Is Rubbing Alcohol?
• Healthy and Safety Guidelines for Isopropyl Alcohol
• Natural Beauty Recipes
• Contact Dermatitis