4. Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2)
Hydrogen peroxide is a topical liquid antiseptic that is naturally formed in the body. When an infection occurs, especially when there is inflammation, the body releases hydrogen peroxide to help kill germs and fight the infection. Peroxide is H2O2, which might sound familiar to another molecule you encounter every day, which is H2O (aka water).
Peroxide works by killing germs through oxidation. It is a water molecule with an extra oxygen atom. When the oxygen has done its thing to kill germs, it bubbles away, leaving only water behind. Since your body produces this product, it is a very natural way to kill germs. It’s also cheap and easy to find in nearly any store.
You don’t need to use too much, but studies have found that applying a little bit of peroxide every day is an effective way to kill off bacteria and restore normal health.