Asked in Conditions and DiseasesRashesSkin Disorders
Conditions and Diseases
Rashes
Skin Disorders
Can rubbing alcohol help a skin rash?
Answer

Wiki User
September 04, 2007 7:42PM
That may actually irritate it more since alcohol has a dehydrating effect on skin. Moisturizer or aloe may soothe the skin better, depending on the rash. It's probably best to see a skin doctor if the rash isn't gone in a couple of days or it's spreading.
Related Questions
Asked in First Aid
How do you use rubbing alcohol to break a fever?

Rubbing alcohol can be applied directly to the skin, or it can
be used to soak a pad, which is then applied to the skin. Either
way, the rubbing alcohol cools the skin as it evaporates. That
said, using small applications of rubbing alcohol to cool the skin
will probably not be sufficient, in itself, to break a fever.
Rubbing alcohol can be used as an adjunct to other fever-reducing
measures, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or cold bath (with the
advice of a health practitioner).
Asked in Skin Care
Can you take off pimples with rubbing alcohol?

Rubbing alcohol will not take the pimple off, but it can help to
treat it. The most effective way to treat a pimple with rubbing
alcohol, especially after it is popped with an extracting tool, is
to rub it with cotton pad that has been dipped in the alcohol or
with an alcohol wipe. The rubbing alcohol will disinfect the wound
by killing all the bacteria within the pore, and closes the pore
while it is clean. Alcohol can be very drying on the skin so try
not to use it too often or on large areas of skin!
Asked in Chemistry, Alcoholic Beverages, The Difference Between
What is the difference between rubbing alcohol and denatured alcohol?

RUBBING ALCOHOL is intended for use on the skin only. It
was made in the old days for rubbing on the skin, on a inflammed
Joint. It was also Rubbed on skin to reduce fevers. It is no longer
used much for these purposes, the older folks may still use for
Joint pain. Rubbing Alcohol is now used in small amounts for
Cleansing the skin before injections. DO NOT DRINK! RUBBING
ALCOHOL IS POISONOUS. CONTAINS CHEMICALS 70% ISO-PROPYL ALCOHOL AND
30% WATER.
_______________________________________________________
DENATURED ALCOHOL IS ETHANOL MAY CONTAIN THESE CHEMICALS:
METHANOL AND OR ISOPROPANOL AND GASOLINE.
DENATURED ALCOHOL IS POISONOUS! DO NOT DRINK.
DENATURED ALCOHOL IS RECOMMENDED IN THE REMOVAL OF MILDEW FROM
NATURAL LEATHER JACKETS, PURSES, PANTS. (DO NOT USE ON
SUEDE)
Asked in Skin Care, Chemistry, First Aid
Why is rubbing the skin briskly with rubbing alcohol beneficial?

Beneficial in what way? Alcohol is a relatively good topical
antiseptic, meaning it will help to remove some of the germs found
on the skin, but don't get the idea it will "kill all the germs".
Really all it does is effectively "degrease" the skin and the
rubbing will remove or wipe away a lot of the topical germs on your
skin. Hydrogen peroxide is a much better "germ killer" if you get a
really dirty cut. Pouring alcohol on a cut is torture - it does no
real good. Just wash cuts with soap and water, rinse thoroughly,
and bandage.
An alcohol rub can lower a child's temperature.
Asked in Rashes
Does rubbing alcohol stop the itch from a skin rash?

After years of going to dermatologists and regular MD's, I
finally got relief from my 10 plus years of whelps and itchy skin
with 91% alcohol. I am in the second week of this therapy, and so
far, so good. The rash is disappearing, and the itching stops with
the application of pure 91% alcohol.
I tried moisturizers, anti-fungal creams, and all the like, to
no avail. Got desperate, and started bathing myself in the alcohol.
The relief was immediate!
Try it. Can't hurt. Yes, it dries out your skin, but that is SO
much better than the constant itch!
Asked in Rashes
Can too much salt cause a red skin rash?

Yes, both my husband get these rashes that itch from ingesting
too much salt. I am not a doctor, but through trial and error, I do
this to take the "itchiness" away: I put rubbing alcohol on the
rash, then wipe w/pure water, then dry the area, then put noxema
and carmex on the skin and avoid wearing anything tight over the
skin so the skin can breathe. I also sometimes put talc powder
(either plain or for powder for atheletics foot) on top as that
seems to dry up the rash. When the rash isn't too bad, I just use
the rubbing alcohol and noxema (original version). The salt seems
to creep in when we go out to eat and is in just about every
half-way instant food. Afterwards, I drink lots of liquids the next
day to flush the salt out.