peroxide burns

For those using peroxide as a booster (if you don't, you should), we all know what happens when you get it on your skin...it burns and turns the skin white.  So, what do you do about it when it happens?

I was doing inventory today on my chemical stores and then went to the garage to check on the tnt.  It was very cold out today with sub-zero wind chills again, so my hands were pretty much numb in a quick time.  Once, I come back inside and my hands started to thaw, they also started to burn.  

I though it was just the circulation returning that was creating all the "pins and needles" until I saw the whiteness and the burning intensified.  Now, I am normally wearing gloves when handling my 27% peroxide, but I was only moving bottles around so I didn't expect to expose myself to any.  The bottle must of had a leak, and it got me pretty good.

In the past, I would just rub my hands with a box of baking soda and then wash it off.  My skin would still be white for about a day or two.  This time, I tried something different.....something much better.

I filled a bucket with warm water and soaked my hands in it for about 15 minutes.  You could actually watch the water oxidize around my fingers and after 15 minutes, all the white was gone.  Problem solved.

So, the next time you get a little peroxide burn, just soak them in warm water until the white discoloration is gone from the skin.

I feel for ya. I had the same thing happen awhile back with a new perfectly dry bottle. It must have had some dry residue on it. It lit me up about like it did you. I ran my hands under cold water for maybe 5-10 minutes and the white burns went away and so did the pain. I never touch any chems now without gloves period.

Ok, so we already know you're super-robot-human, Rob! But just how many HANDS do you have?!....or did you take the picture with your chin?

BTW thanks for this tip!

Davey Cracker wrote:Ok, so we already know you're super-robot-human, Rob!  But just how many HANDS do you have?!....or did you take the picture with your chin?

BTW thanks for this tip!

I learned it from watching the gorillas.

^ I should have known.

In addition to wearing gloves while handling, it's not a bad idea to wear eye protection also. As I found out a couple months ago, when I had a small drop splash in my eye while flipping open my flip-top bottle. Luckily it was only a small amount and I had a bottle of water close by, and was able to flush my eye out real good, quickly. It only burned for a couple min, but could have been much worse, so I was lucky.

If the area is smaller and I mean quite a bit smaller than what you're showing there I get the burning to go away by rubbing my hands through my sweaty scalp. It takes a few times but it works every time.

Haha good one Ken, no wonder your hair is Orange!

I always have a bottle of hand sanitizer and clean towels in my van, to clean my hands if water isn't handy.

It helps keep the germs and colds away too......... I buy it by the gallon.

I always keep disposable plastic gloves on the truck for 27% hp. You should ALWAYS wear goggles as well! If you splash it in your eyes you are blind!

Eye protection is a must! Same goes for eye wash on the truck. Peroxide burns can blind you.

27%......what volume is that.??
My reading(not from Joe) is for every 1% = 3.3 volume.

That would be over 81 volume. Is that about right?

If so, that is nasty strong!

I use 30-40 volume.

40 vol. is strong hair bleach, Sally lol................weak compared to 27%.

I use Super Charger by steamaction.

Davey Cracker wrote:40 vol. is strong hair bleach, Sally lol................weak compared to 27%.

So is my figure on the 27% close?
40vol is about as strong I want to go.

Google tells us...........

VOLUME......contains this PERCENTAGE
of hydrogen peroxide
10 volume or V10 3%
20 volume or V20 6%
30 volume or V30 9%
40 volume or V40 12%

The advantage of stronger 27% is, you use much less for the same effectiveness........which becomes much more cost effective than buying 30-40 vol. from Sally's. Not to mention you can buy gallon of 27% for about the same price or much less (if you look) than you pay for just a Quart of 30-40 vol. at Sally's.

Davey Cracker wrote:Google tells us...........

VOLUME......contains this PERCENTAGE
of hydrogen peroxide
10 volume or V10 3%
20 volume or V20 6%
30 volume or V30 9%
40 volume or V40 12%

The advantage of stronger 27% is, you use much less for the same effectiveness........which becomes much more cost effective than buying 30-40 vol. from Sally's. Not to mention you can buy gallon of 27% for about the same price or much less (if you look) than you pay for just a Quart of 30-40 vol. at Sally's.

Well said.

I wonder if there's any longer term health effects of HP burns?? Never had one that bad

I doubt it, it doesn't penetrate that deep into the tissues. There might be some long term education though.

From reading, it take longer term constant contact/exposure, and the stronger %..../to cause any health issues.

Thats good to know Im always boosting with that stuff

What about inhalation? We use S & O so we are not inhaling butyl but then we boost with peroxide and inhale it. If it burns the skin like that what about our lungs? Has this ever been researched?

The gas that it gives off is oxygen unless I am mistaken. So breathing the vapors can't be too harmful. Now should the liquid get in/on your lungs you have a different story.

Ken is right. Peroxide which is H2O2, breaks down into H2O and O or if you prefer, water and oxygen. No harmful vapors.

Thanks for keeping this topic alive William. I forgot about it.

Once you add water it shouldn't burn your hands. But before dilution its a product that needs to be respected. But it does look like there is an inhalation and ingestion toxicity of course that's based on the concentration of H2O2. It doesn't say at what concentration level toxicity occurs. I would presume that would be based on the individual and the concentration that were using it at.

It does say that at 3-5% dilution ratios it's mildly irritating to the skin and mucous membranes.

If you pour a 8 oz of 40% H2O2 to a gallon of water your making a gallon of approximately 3% HP which is what we use as household antiseptic.
Rarely do I use more that 4ozp per gallon so Im making a concentration of 1.5%. I guess at that concentration is is less than mild??

This is what I was reading


http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MMG/MMG.asp?id=304&tid=55

http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1015.pdf

Get it on your hands and it looks like leprosy.