• Question: can alkali infect your skin if you put it on there ? Your question: ers or sisters

    Asked by beth5000 to Claire, Kate, Matt, Rob, Sam on 25 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Sam Geen

      Sam Geen answered on 25 Jun 2013:

      Alkali can burn your skin by reacting with it. It doesn’t infect it – an infection is where germs damage your body.

    • Photo: Claire Lee

      Claire Lee answered on 26 Jun 2013:

      Though if you’ve left a gaping hole in your skin then germs could get in and infect it afterwards. I wouldn’t try it, either way!

    • Photo: Matthew Pankhurst

      Matthew Pankhurst answered on 26 Jun 2013:

      Alkalis are just as bad as acids on your skin. It all depends on the strength (or “power”) of the alkali or acid. Your skin is amazing though, if you ever are unlucky enough to have a cut and spill bleach (a strong alkali) on it you’ll know how good your skin is! The bleach can irritate your skin quite badly but you can just wash it off with lots of water. The cut burns and stings and is really, really painful (trust me – I know!) It just shows what a good job your skin does in keeping out bad stuff, and protecting the insides of our bodies. Thanks skin!

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