WHY does alcohol sting?

WHY does alcohol sting? (Full Version)

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Nikolette -> WHY does alcohol sting? (2/1/2008 8:29:39 PM)
Does anyone know the answer to this? Why does alcohol sting/burn/hurt when applied to a wound? My niece asked me earlier tonight and I had no answer for her. I have no idea why it stings in specific. I googled it in as many phrases as I could think of and found no answers except "it stings because its working" etc etc. But I'm extremely curious now as to why alcohol hurts. What about it makes it cause pain?

fluffyswitch -> RE: WHY does alcohol sting? (2/1/2008 8:36:56 PM)
it kills cells, though in what manner i don't remember. it has to do with reverse osmosis and the breaking down of chemical bonds in teh cell. if i remember right, and it's been a LONG time since i've done any chem work, it has to do with the way that alcohol interacts with the sugars and other organic chemicals in the skin--similar to teh way that soap blows up micro organisms.

Aneirin -> RE: WHY does alcohol sting? (2/1/2008 8:41:09 PM)
I am no chemist, but I thought it was to do with the evaporative effect of alcohol when exposed to air, in that it wets and then rapidly dries as it evaporates, doing something to the nerve endings, shocking them I suppose.

YourhandMyAss -> RE: WHY does alcohol sting? (2/1/2008 8:51:40 PM)
So is alcohole a good thing or a bad thing? quote: ORIGINAL: fluffyswitch it kills cells, though in what manner i don't remember. it has to do with reverse osmosis and the breaking down of chemical bonds in teh cell. if i remember right, and it's been a LONG time since i've done any chem work, it has to do with the way that alcohol interacts with the sugars and other organic chemicals in the skin--similar to teh way that soap blows up micro organisms.

Nosathro -> RE: WHY does alcohol sting? (2/1/2008 8:52:09 PM)
I believe alcohol has a high PH. level. What that is I can not remember off hand. Due to this high level cells can not survive in it, that is why they die. It is also why alcohol is used in sterilization.

Nikolette -> RE: WHY does alcohol sting? (2/1/2008 11:13:02 PM)
YourhandMyAss: I don't know for sure based on how she explained its function- however a lot of the pages I was reading to when trying to find out my answer indicated that alcohol has been rendered pointless and somewhat damaging because it dries skin out and is relatively harsh. Many recommended peroxide instead. But- I'm not an expert to any degree. If you are extremely curious you can always ask your Doctor on your next visit. That was what I was planning on doing if I couldn't find out how alcohol works. Many thanks for the helpful answers. I feel closer to knowing for certain already.

Muttling -> RE: WHY does alcohol sting? (2/1/2008 11:27:18 PM)
You guys are hitting all around it, but not all the way on the mark.... The reverse osmosis thing is a part of it. In short, the alcohol is absorded into the cells directly through the cell walls. This also happens when you drink alcohol as most of the alcohol is absorbed directly into the blood stream through the sinus passages and never gets to the stomach. As you drink more, the rate of absorbtion decreases as a result of osmosis. Once in the cell, alchohols increase the sensitivity of the VR1 receptors (yes, I had to Google that detail) which are the same receptors that transmit the sensation of burning. This is the same reason why your sinuses burn when you drink a really strong alcoholic beverage. The cells aren't really getting burned but the receptors that tell your brain that you are getting burned are stimulated.

Foititis -> RE: WHY does alcohol sting? (2/2/2008 12:00:23 AM)
That and that wacky OH group.

Hippiekinkster -> RE: WHY does alcohol sting? (2/2/2008 1:21:45 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Nosathro I believe alcohol has a high PH. level. What that is I can not remember off hand. Due to this high level cells can not survive in it, that is why they die. It is also why alcohol is used in sterilization. This is just plain silly.

Termyn8or -> RE: WHY does alcohol sting? (2/2/2008 1:27:10 AM)
Why on Earth would you put alcohol on an open wound ? T

Hippiekinkster -> RE: WHY does alcohol sting? (2/2/2008 1:37:03 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Muttling This also happens when you drink alcohol as most of the alcohol is absorbed directly into the blood stream through the sinus passages and never gets to the stomach. As you drink more, the rate of absorbtion decreases as a result of osmosis. This is silly too. [sm=tongue.gif] "Alcohol is absorbed from all parts of the gastrointestinal tract largely by simple diffusion into the blood. However the small intestine is by far the most efficient region of the gastrointestinal tract for alcohol absorption because of its very large surface area. In a fasting individual, it is generally agreed that 20% to 25% of a dose of alcohol is absorbed from the stomach and 75% to 80% is absorbed from the small intestine." http://www.intox.com/physiology.asp

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