What makes rubbing alcohol

People should avoid adding rubbing alcohol to their bathwater. Prolonged exposure to rubbing alcohol can cause the skin to absorb the alcohol, which can lead to toxicity in both children and adults. As such, it is not an effective treatment for fever. In fact, inhaling large quantities of rubbing alcohol can lead to additional health problems, such as:.

Rubbing alcohol causes drying of the skin. According to the AAD, dry skin can make acne appear worse. It can also increase the frequency and severity of acne breakouts. People should, therefore, avoid using rubbing alcohol as a treatment for acne. Anyone who is concerned about acne should speak to a doctor or dermatologist for advice on effective acne treatments.

A person should not use rubbing alcohol to treat lice. Rubbing alcohol can kill lice, but it can also cause adverse reactions on the scalp. A person who has lice can ask their doctor or pharmacist for advice on effective lice treatments.

According to the CDC, rubbing alcohol is not suitable for sterilizing medical and surgical equipment because it does not effectively kill bacterial spores. A bacterial spore is a protective layer that forms around the DNA of certain bacteria. It allows the bacteria to lie dormant until environmental conditions become more favorable for their growth. According to the National Capital Poison Center , drinking a small amount of rubbing alcohol typically causes few symptoms.

However, drinking a significant amount can cause poisoning and serious illness. If an adult or child accidentally swallows rubbing alcohol, they or their caregiver should contact Poison Control immediately on If symptoms are present, a person should phone for emergency medical treatment.

Rubbing alcohol has several potential uses for personal care and household cleaning. These uses include cleaning bites and piercings, eliminating odors, and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and items within the home. People should avoid inhaling large quantities of rubbing alcohol vapor, as this can have serious side effects. They should also avoid long-term use of rubbing alcohol on the skin. Drinking rubbing alcohol can cause poisoning and serious illness.

A person should phone a poison control center or immediately if they or their child accidentally swallows rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is a disinfectant that can help treat minor skin wounds. Read on to discover whether rubbing alcohol is an effective treatment for….

People may choose to attempt to make their own. A cold compress is a chilled or frozen object, often a piece of cloth. A person can apply one to the body to relieve pain, swelling, and fever. People choose green cleaning products to avoid chemicals that may harm their health and the environment. Learn about some of the best green cleaning…. Find out the best way to disinfect your phone with this…. What uses does rubbing alcohol have? Well, it might deserve a second look. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Rubbing alcohol more formally known as isopropyl alcohol has a variety of uses for health, hygiene and household.

Some of them might surprise you, so we spoke with Sarah Pickering Beers, MD to learn more about how to use this versatile tool and how to be safe when using it. The rubbing alcohol you buy at the drugstore is a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water.

Beers says. Alcohol is handy for disinfecting household tools like thermometers, scissors and manicure tools. You can even use it to clean makeup brushes: Swirl the brush in a small cup of rubbing alcohol, then allow it to air dry. Use rubbing alcohol to zap germs on high-touch surfaces like your phone, keyboard and computer mouse.

Use a small amount on a cloth to wipe surfaces clean. Rubbing alcohol can get rid of the bacteria that leads to armpit stink. The body metabolizes these extremely high alcohol levels into acetone.

If consumed to intoxication, the substance can lead to organ damage. Because it's a central nervous system depressant, side effects can include dizziness, headaches and inebriation.

Because it's a gastrointestinal irritant, it can cause nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting blood. In addition, "due to having a higher molecular weight than ethanol, isopropanol, is more intoxicating than ethanol and can produce an altered sensorium, hypotension, hypothermia, and even cardiopulmonary collapse.

Hypotension is associated with severe overdose and related to a mortality rate of nearly 45 percent," according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information NCBI. For someone who wants to get drunk as fast as possible, yes, isopropyl alcohol will do the trick. According to the NCBI, "nearly 80 percent is absorbed [into the bloodstream] within 30 minutes of ingestion.

Odds are high that the individual won't only get drunk on this dangerously toxic beverage, they'll black out and possibly even die. According to Livestrong. To put it in perspective: the average shot glass is 1. A can of Coke is 12 ounces.

Ingesting only eight ounces of rubbing alcohol can kill you. If a person drinks even a small amount and has any of the above-mentioned side effects, call —medical attention is necessary immediately. Do not induce vomiting. The caustic nature of rubbing alcohol can cause chemical burns to the esophagus. If rubbing alcohol was inhaled, move to fresh air. If the substance is on the skin, flush with water.

Before calling , know the person's age, weight and condition; name of the product; time it was swallowed and how much was swallowed.