What Are the Uses and Applications of Potassium Permanganate?

Many people are familiar with potassium permanganate, especially students who have studied chemistry. Potassium permanganate, when dissolved in water, can turn the water pink. It is an acidic substance that can be used in various aspects of daily life, such as treating gynecological inflammation, disinfection, sterilization, and more. Let's explore the uses and applications of potassium permanganate together.

Firstly, potassium permanganate powder has four main uses. Firstly, it can be used to treat infected wounds. For wounds that have become infected, abscesses, bedsores, etc., a 1:1000 dilution of potassium permanganate powder can be used for cleaning. Additionally, for anal conditions such as anal fistula, anal fissures, and hemorrhoids, a sitz bath or external application can be helpful, as it has antibacterial, analgesic, antipruritic, and anti-inflammatory effects.

Secondly, potassium permanganate powder can be used for gynecological inflammation. After conditions such as bacterial vaginitis, cervical erosion, or post-abortion, laser surgery for condyloma acuminata, and other vaginal surgeries, a 1:5000 to 1:10000 dilution of potassium permanganate powder can be used for external washing or sitz baths to help control infection and promote healing. This method is also suitable for external genital infections in male patients. Additionally, newlywed women can use a 1:2000 dilution to clean their external genitalia, which can help prevent cystitis during the honeymoon period.

Thirdly, potassium permanganate can be used to reduce underarm and foot odor. A 1:5000 dilution of potassium permanganate powder can help reduce unpleasant body odor from the underarms. For those with foot odor, soaking their feet in this concentration can help relieve itching and reduce odor.

Fourthly, potassium permanganate can be used to disinfect fruits, vegetables, and tableware. For disinfecting utensils, a 1:1000 dilution of potassium permanganate powder can be used to soak the items for 15 minutes before rinsing with running water. Fruits and vegetables contaminated with bacteria can be soaked in this concentration for 5 minutes to kill bacteria without affecting their color or taste.

Now, let's discuss the use of potassium permanganate tablets. Firstly, it is important to control the concentration, as excessive concentration can lead to skin ulceration. The simplest way to check the concentration is to observe the color of the solution, which should be a rose red.

Secondly, disinfection should be thorough, with a disinfection time of at least 5 minutes. This is because potassium permanganate releases oxygen slowly and requires time to kill bacteria. The prepared solution can usually be stored for about two hours.

Lastly, it is recommended to use cool water when preparing potassium permanganate solutions. In gynecology, potassium permanganate solutions have a wide range of applications, including vaginal and external genital washes to prevent urinary tract infections.

Additionally, the incidence of hemorrhoids is relatively high among women. Soaking in a potassium permanganate solution can help relieve itching, pain, prevent infection, and promote the repositioning of protruding hemorrhoids. However, it is important not to use potassium permanganate for extended periods as it can disrupt the vaginal flora.