Antiseptics and disinfectants

Antiseptics and Disinfectants: Same Job, Different Application Surface

Antiseptics and disinfectants both function chemically to kill microorganisms or arrest their growth, but the two terms are distinguished by where the substance is applied, not by a difference in chemical action.

Antiseptics are applied directly to living tissue - wounds, ulcers, and diseased areas of skin - and, importantly, are not meant to be ingested. Furacine and soframicine are examples in use. The common household antiseptic dettol is a mixture of chloroxylenol and terpineol. Bithionol is a compound added to soaps specifically to give them antiseptic action. Iodine is itself a powerful antiseptic: a 2-3% solution of iodine in an alcohol-water mixture is called tincture of iodine and is applied directly to wounds; iodoform is used in the same wound-antiseptic role, and dilute aqueous boric acid serves as a weak antiseptic suitable for the eyes. …