13 Benefits of Rubbing Alcohol on the body

Rubbing Alcohol Uses
benefits of rubbing alcohol on body parts

If you are someone who thinks that Alcohol deserves just a place in your bar cabinet, then think again.

While Alcohol and its varietals have a prominent dominance in the bar and liquor corners, its other usage too cannot be denied. Yes, here, we are talking about Rubbing Alcohol and its Usage.

Rubbing Alcohol is a commonly used household solution. More than half of the households across the world keep it handy for several works.

While some have it in its true form, others have it in the form of some daily-use product.

From Jewellery cleaning solutions to stain removes, glass cleaners, hand sanitizer, household disinfectants, and antifreeze, most of such products contain Rubbing Alcohol as an active ingredient.

Although Rubbing Alcohol is not made for drinking or internal use, it still comes out extremely handy.

During day-to-day life, it provides for several works that mostly go unnoticed.

Rubbing Alcohol even has multiple usage and benefits when used on the human body. Surprised? Come let’s put some light into it.

13 Usage and Benefits of Rubbing Alcohol on Human Body

Rubbing Alcohol is a part of several households, and there are several good reasons behind it.

And even if you don’t own one, it is time to include a bottle of Rubbing Alcohol in your first aid kid. Here’s why-

Rubbing Alcohol for Cleaning Cuts

The most common way to clean cuts and wounds is through cold water.

However, for times you may not have access to cold water, Rubbing Alcohol comes in handy.

Though it might irritate the delicate tissues around the cut a little bit, it will also kill the germs.

Rubbing Alcohol on cuts also reduces the chances of skin infection and fungus.

Rubbing Alcohol for Pierced ears

When used around fresh ear piercing, Rubbing Alcohol prevents scabbing and bacterial infections. For cleaning your ear piercing with Rubbing Alcohol,

Take a cotton ball and dip it in 70% Isopropyl Alcohol. 4 to 5 drops of Alcohol would be enough for the process.

Now dab the Alcohol dipped cotton ball on the back and front of your ear, around the piercing.

Rubbing Alcohol for Earwax

Earwax works as a shield for protecting the eardrums. With time, the amount of earwax that dries up comes close to your ear’s opening bringing out dirt and dust as well.

While you clean your ears with a cotton swab, the gunk that you remove is basically wax with dirt and dust.

However, sometimes when this wax does not come out or it isn’t removed, it can clog your ears.

At this stage, take a cotton swab, dip it in Rubbing Alcohol and remove all the dried earwax.

Rubbing Alcohol for Swimmer’s ear

Swimmers are prone to ear canal infection simply because of their constant exposure to the pool water.

This exposure keeps their ears moist from inside most of the time. However, generally, the ear needs to stay dry.

Keeping them dry while missing the swimming session isn’t difficult as well.

Using a few drops of Rubbing Alcohol on ears can help them dry out and remove excessive moisture.

Rubbing Alcohol for Nausea After Surgery

Rubbing Alcohol comes in handy for alleviating Nausea after medical surgery.

For anyone, it is quite common to feel uncomfortable or sick right after they wake up after surgery.

This can be a side effect of anesthesia, medicine, or the hospital environment. 

However, some studies suggest that inhaling Rubbing Alcohol can reduce Nausea by soothing the patient’s stomach.

Though inhaling too much Alcohol can also cause side effects to the patient. 

Rubbing Alcohol as a Cold Pack

A 1:1 solution of 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (Rubbing Alcohol) and Water makes for ice packs that can compete with those store-bought ice packs.

Unlike the plain water ice, it doesn’t get hard in the freezer and is good for minor strain and sprains. 

Rubbing Alcohol for Ear infection

Rubbing Alcohol helps in maintaining the ear’s pH balance after recovering from infections.

Take 1 portion of Rubbing Alcohol and 1 portion of White vinegar and mix them.

Now pour 2 to 3 drops in each ear, and make sure you let it drain out right away. 

Rubbing Alcohol for Sore Muscles

As per Columbia Online Encyclopaedia, Rubbing Alcohol, when rubbed over the skin, acts as an irritant and increases the blood flow of that specific area.

Thus, when spread over sore muscles or joints also helps reduce pain and swelling within no time. 

Rubbing Alcohol for Cold Sores

Rubbing Alcohol is known for curing cold sores and preventing its re-contamination.

Take a cotton swab, dip it in 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (Rubbing Alcohol) and dap it over a cold sore.

It will dry out the sore and speed up healing.

Rubbing Alcohol for Mosquito bites

Dabbing rubbing Alcohol on Mosquito bites relives from itching. It is because Rubbing Alcohol has a cooling effect that keeps itching and irritation at bay. 

Rubbing Alcohol for Body Odour

Rubbing Alcohol is known to kill odour causing bacteria. If you apply Rubbing Alcohol under your armpits and other sweating areas, it will keep your body odour at bay.

However, refrain from applying the solution over any cuts, shaved, or freshly chemically treated areas. 

Rubbing Alcohol for Flea and Ticks

If you have dogs at home, chances are you may also have some ticks over your body.

And with ticks, the most difficult part is removing them. However, with the use of Rubbing Alcohol, you can do the task quite swiftly.

Take a cotton ball, dip it in Rubbing Alcohol, and dap it over and around the ticks on your body. Now with the help of tweezers, remove the ticks.

Rubbing Alcohol as Hand Sanitisers

Until COVID-19 was not introduced as a global pandemic, hand sanitizer usage was not that popular.

However, today there isn’t a home that might not stock sanitizers like they stock food times.

uses of rubbing alcohol

Though do you know, ‘You can make hand sanitizer at home as well? Yes, you can. Here’s how:

  • Take 2/3rd cup of Rubbing Alcohol and 1/3rd cup of fresh Alovera gel.
  • Take a glass or plastic bowl and mix both the ingredients until they become one slimy paste. 
  • Your homemade hand sanitiser is now ready.
  • If you want, you can also mix some drops of your favourite essential oil to get rid of the alcoholic odour. 
  • Or, to add some moisture into your sanitiser mixer, consider adding 1/2 teaspoon glycerine as well. 

You can store this solution in a plastic or glass container (with a lid) and use it for months. 

Rubbing Alcohol usage and Common Mistakes

Rubbing Alcohol is a safe to use solution and loved by homemakers.

However, due to its unique chemical properties, while using Rubbing Alcohol, one must work smartly.

Here are a few things you should avoid doing while using Rubbing Alcohol:

Never use Rubbing Alcohol near Gas stove, flames, or smoke

Rubbing Alcohol obviously is highly flammable, which means using it around flames or smoke can lead to a fire. 

Never mix Rubbing Alcohol with Bleach.

There are several chemicals one should never mix, and Rubbing Alcohol and Bleach are two common amongst them. Wondering why?

Rubbing Alcohol as a solution contains ethanol and isopropyl.

In comparison, bleach contains sodium hypochlorite and some traces of mercury.

And when you mix them both, it creates chloroform. Chloroform is an organic compound that, when inhaled, can cause Nausea, dizziness.

Or at worst it can even cause serious effects to the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys.

Thus, mixing Rubbing Alcohol with Bleach isn’t just dangerous but also hazardous.

Never clean wood, leather, and certain other surfaces with Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing Alcohol is a super-power disinfectant; however, it is not meant for all kinds of surfaces.

For example, you should not use it for cleaning wood or leather.

Or using Rubbing Alcohol over varnishes or finishes can damage the same.

Also, avoid using it over acetate, rayon, wool, silk, and other delicate cloth pieces. 

Can I Use Rubbing Alcohol for fever control?

For years, parents and doctors have used Rubbing Alcohol as a cold pack on fever patients.

Rubbing Alcohol causes a cooling sensation that might provide some external relief from the rising temperature on the human body.

However, the effect is external and does not control or drop core temperature/ fever.

Also, regardless of the temporary comfort it provides, one should not use Rubbing Alcohol for fever control.

Does Alcohol get rid of soreness?

Does rubbing alcohol help arthritis? Rubbing Alcohol for sore muscles is any day one quick and easy home remedy.

For example, an increase in muscular blood flow enhances tissue healing.

An increased blood flow might not cure the condition but will definitely provide some relief for anyone who has soreness due to arthritis.

That is why rubbing Alcohol when used for conditions like arthritis increases the blood flow of that specific area and provides relief to some extent.

It definitely isn’t a cure but surely a temporary treatment to try until the patient can seek medical help. 

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Are there any dangers of rubbing Alcohol on the skin?

Rubbing or wiping a small amount of 70% Isopropyl Alcohol is safe.

The biggest example of the same is the hand sanitizers that people use in their day-to-day lives.

However, increased amount of usage, prolonged exposure, and using undiluted Isopropyl Alcohol on the skin may show adverse effects.

Any such condition can lead your skin to itch, redness, rashes, drying, and cracking.

Can I use rubbing Alcohol on toddler skin?

No, Rubbing Alcohol for kids in any particular user is not at all safe. Both external and internal usage of Isopropyl Alcohol on kids can lead to serious health issues.

Even when picking hand sanitizers for kids, either go for the kids-appropriate ones or the organic/ natural ones.

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Wrapping up…

Rubbing Alcohol is a handy solution, and these were some of its safe usages.

We hope the information given in the article above with help you play safe with this chemical compound.

Remember rubbing Alcohol is a denatured and undrinkable solution. It isn’t meant for internal usage or consumption at any cost or circumstance.

Also, please note that a few experts might disagree with some of the Rubbing Alcohol usages.

While using it in homes is common, doctors and experts do not completely support the claim.

Thus, before going forward with its usage on the human body, always cross-check or seek professional advice.

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