Same molecule as Isopropyl Alcohol 70%
Why 70% kills more bacteria than 91%. The chemistry that surprises everyone.
Isopropyl alcohol 70%. The right concentration for skin and surface disinfection. Not for open wounds. 8 oz.
Ships within 1 to 2 business days from our pharmacy. Free shipping on subscriptions and orders over $50.
The protocol.
- Skin prep before injections: wipe with a clean cotton ball or gauze, allow to dry
- Tool disinfection: soak tweezers, scissors, or nail clippers for 5 minutes
- Surface cleaning: spray on countertops, thermometers, glucometers, doorknobs
- Adhesive residue removal: apply to a cotton ball and dab
- Never apply to open wounds, eyes, or for internal use
Safe for. Use with caution.
Safe for
- Skin prep before insulin or vaccine injections
- Disinfecting thermometers, glucometers, scissors, and tweezers
- Surface cleaning during cold and flu season
Use with caution
- Open wounds. Damages healing tissue.
- Eyes or mucous membranes.
- Children's mouth area.
- Drinking or internal use is toxic.
Before you buy just the tablet, look at this.
Fairview Wound Defense Kit$34.99
- Rubbing Alcohol 70% 8oz
- Hydrogen Peroxide 3% 8oz
- Neosporin Triple Antibiotic 1oz
- Band Aid Assorted Bandages 50ct
Individual total: $40.96 → Kit: $34.99 → You save $5.97.
Plus you skip the $50 minimum entirely.
Get the Complete Kit. Best ValueThis product is new to the shop. Verified customer reviews will appear here as they come in. Have a question before then? Ask Dr. Mike.
What chain pharmacies never explain.
The most common question Dr. Mike receives about rubbing alcohol: should I buy 70% or 91%? Isn't higher stronger? The answer surprises most people: 70% is more effective for disinfection than 91%. Here's why.
Isopropyl alcohol kills bacteria by denaturing the proteins in bacterial cell membranes. For this denaturing to be complete, the alcohol needs time in contact with the bacterial protein. It cannot simply hit the surface and evaporate. At 91% concentration, alcohol evaporates so rapidly that it does not have sufficient contact time. It kills the outer surface of a bacterial colony but may not penetrate effectively.
At 70% concentration, the water content slows evaporation. The alcohol remains in contact with the surface long enough to completely denature proteins, achieving deeper, more complete microbial kill. The CDC, WHO, and clinical literature all specify 60 to 70% ethanol or 70% isopropyl alcohol as the target concentration for effective disinfection.
The second thing to know: rubbing alcohol is a surface and skin disinfectant. It is NOT appropriate for open wounds. Like hydrogen peroxide, isopropyl alcohol is cytotoxic. It kills human cells as effectively as it kills bacteria. Applying it to an open wound is painful and damages the healing tissue.
I keep 70% alcohol stocked because it's one of the most useful disinfectants in the home, for surfaces, for preparing skin before injections, for cleaning thermometers, glucometers, and insulin pen tips. I also stock it because it's the product I most often have to talk people out of using on open wounds. The pain alone should tell you something. That burning sensation is tissue damage. The wound cleans with soap and water. The alcohol is for everything that touches the wound, the tools, the hands, the surfaces.
Dr. Mike Acheampong, PharmD, MPH. Fairview Pharmacy, Hattiesburg, MS.
Questions, answered.
How is this different from the brand on the same shelf?
Where we stock the brand name (Neosporin, CeraVe, Lamisil, etc.), the medicine is identical. Our price is what changes. Where a category has equally effective generic active ingredients, the FDA bioequivalence standard guarantees the same active ingredient at the same dose. The pharmacist context on every product page is the part you cannot get at a chain.
How soon will my order ship?
Orders ship within 1 to 2 business days from our pharmacy in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. You'll receive a tracking number once your package leaves the pharmacy. Free shipping on orders over $50. Defense Kit purchases skip the $50 minimum entirely.
What is your return policy?
Unopened products in their original sealed packaging can be returned within 30 days of delivery for a refund. For safety reasons, opened skincare and wound care products are not returnable. If something arrives damaged or incorrect, contact us within 7 days and we'll make it right.
Can I use this with my prescription medications or topical Rx?
Most OTC skin and wound products are compatible with prescription topicals, but the order and timing of application matter. Steroid creams, retinoids, and prescription antifungals each have their own rules. For any combination involving prescriptions, please call us at the pharmacy for a free consultation. No appointment, no hold music.
Is this safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Most products in this collection are safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding when used as directed on small skin surface areas. Exceptions include hydrocortisone over large areas, terbinafine (Lamisil) during pregnancy, and selenium sulfide (Selsun Blue) on the scalp. Before ordering during pregnancy or breastfeeding, please request a free pharmacist consultation.
One product is good. The kit is the protocol.
Dr. Mike doesn't hand patients single products. He hands them protocols. The Fairview Wound Defense Kit is the full version of what most people need. And it skips the $50 minimum.