Most household hydrogen peroxide solutions are about 3% hydrogen peroxide and 97% water. These can cause minor irritation to the skin, eyes, or digestive system, stinging, and/or whitening of the skin, but can almost always be treated by simply flushing the area with cool water. Products that bleach hair can contain between 6 and 10% hydrogen peroxide, and can be more harmful than standard household solutions. Industrial solutions contain between 35 and 90% hydrogen peroxide. These can cause chemical burns that require immediate emergency care. You may notice blistering on the skin. Call emergency services immediately to treat exposures to industrial hydrogen peroxide.
If you can’t flush the area, try holding a cool compress against your skin to relieve the pain. [2] X Expert Source Mohiba Tareen, MDFAAD Board Certified Dermatologist Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.
Avoid scrubbing or breaking any small blisters that develop. Consider applying an aloe vera gel to ease discomfort. [4] X Expert Source Mohiba Tareen, MDFAAD Board Certified Dermatologist Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.
Schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor, contact the medical professional who treated your wound, or visit a local clinic for a follow-up examination.
You can also try flushing your eyes with a . 9 % saline solution. If you have a bottle of saline solution on hand, check its label to find out its concentration. [5] X Research source
Even if the victim can breathe and CPR isn’t required, emergency personnel may still offer a respiratory mask to someone who’s ingested hydrogen peroxide, especially at higher concentrations.
Be prepared to describe the victim’s age, weight, and condition. Tell the emergency operator the name of the product ingested and solution strength. Let them know the time and amount that they swallowed.
Try gargling repeatedly with cool water if your mouth is the only affected area.
If your case is severe enough for hospitalization, medical professionals will administer an endoscopy to examine your digestive tract. Activated charcoal will interfere with this examination.
