No, and the advice is unusually direct. When caring for an open surgical wound, do not use skin cleansers, alcohol, peroxide, iodine, or soap with antibacterial chemicals. These can damage the wound tissue and slow healing.
Two reasons. Damage to the wound tissue. And slower healing. Neither is about whether the alcohol kills bacteria. That’s not the question this advice is answering.
It’s also worth knowing that some items come with an exception, but alcohol doesn’t. For pressure sores, don’t use hydrogen peroxide or iodine cleansers unless directed by your provider. For alcohol on an open surgical wound, there’s no such exception. Simply don’t use it.
Here’s what to use instead. Normal saline solution or mild soapy water, applied by soaking a gauze pad or soft cloth and gently dabbing or wiping. For minor wounds, gentle soap and water. For a stage I pressure sore, mild soap and water.
One thing that causes confusion: alcohol-based hand cleanser on your hands before a dressing change is a different thing entirely, and it’s fine. It is important to clean your hands before you change your dressing, and you can use an alcohol-based cleanser. Hands, not the wound.
If alcohol has already been used on a wound, this is not a reason to panic. But it is worth mentioning at the next appointment, especially if the wound has become more painful or has stopped making progress.