![]() ![]() The intensity of the “burn” from the silver nitrate is based on how long the activated stick is applied to the tissue. The petroleum jelly will form a boundary to restrict the active area where the silver nitrate will operate. Remember, silver nitrate is very caustic, and while it can be beneficial to protect the damaged tissue of a wound, it can also cause discomfort and damage to perfectly healthy tissue. This begins with removing the bandage from the wound with clean gloves, cleaning the wound with a sterile solution, donning new gloves between each step, and finally applying a boundary around the wound. Essentially, if the reason you are using silver nitrate is to disinfect the wound, you should make every effort not to further contaminate the wound. However, to safely and properly apply silver nitrate to a wound, significant safety precautions should be taken. Silver Nitrate sticks (Photo Credit : Rick’s Photography/Shutterstock) Without the introduction of water, the sticks are harmless and inactivated, but when it touches water, the chemical reaction is catalyzed, at which point the sticks can be applied directly to the site of the wound. The silver nitrate applicator sticks are composed of both silver nitrate and a small amount of potassium nitrate, and become activated when the tips of these sticks (which look like long matches) are exposed to water. However, you can also use silver nitrate to treat warts and skin tags, in which case a silver nitrate ointment should be used. For cauterizing and disinfecting open wounds, silver nitrate applicator sticks should be used, and this is the primary form you will find. The method of topical application differs slightly, depending on which type of silver nitrate you are using. Furthermore, due to the caustic nature of silver nitrate, it is able to stem the flow of bleeding and cauterize the edges of a wound, effectively sealing up capillaries. This compound is used topically in the case of more serious wounds that may have deeper granulated tissue formation, or rolled/calloused edges, as these conditions will encourage infections. However, when it comes to medical applications, the antiseptic and cauterizing qualities of this compound make it quite valuable, particularly outside of a formal hospital setting. Silver nitrate is an inorganic compound that has a number of applications in various industries, from photography to electron microscopy. The application of the chemical is different than most medical procedures you may be familiar with, yet it remains in use to this day! ![]() Furthermore, in certain conditions when infection is already present or highly likely, some sort of defense is essential.įor nearly 200 years, medical practitioners across the world have been using silver nitrate (AgNO 3) in various forms to speed the healing process of these more serious wounds. However, there are those instances of more serious damage to our tissues or body that may require a bit of artificial help beyond Neosporin. Our body is quite good at recovering from minor injuries, and has a number of built-in tools to help the body heal. When you fall and scrape your knee as a child, your mother probably applied a bit of antiseptic and slapped a Band-Aid on it before sending you back off onto the playground. The silver nitrate helps to disinfect the wound and speed up the healing process. When the silver nitrate comes into contact with water, it creates a chemical reaction that allows it to be applied directly to the site of the wound. ![]() The silver nitrate applicator sticks are composed of silver nitrate and a small amount of potassium nitrate, and become activated when the tips of the sticks are exposed to water. Silver nitrate works on human wounds by acting as an antiseptic and cauterizing agent. Precautions to Take When Using Silver Nitrate. ![]()
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